In our fourth and final blog for motorcycle awareness month, we will discuss some general safety tips for riding with passenger. The added weight of passengers adds a different feel and control of the bike, making navigation a bit more difficult. The following tips will help you remember a few basic rules to follow when you are riding with a passenger.
Safety Step Four: keep your passengers safe.
As the operator of the motorcycle, it is your responsibility to ensure your passenger’s safety. It is important to take a more conservative and defensive approach to your riding when you are carrying passengers.
You are an experienced rider, but your passenger may not be. By now, you are used to the sensation of the open air, quick acceleration, and leaning curves that come with riding a motorcycle. However, your passenger may not be as adept to the physical exhilaration of riding a bike. For the sake of your passenger, operate your bike with a bit more sensitivity while your passenger adjusts to the sensation of riding a motorcycle.
An inexperienced passenger may also be unaware of the importance of wearing a helmet. If the passenger is under the age of eighteen, Utah Motorcycle law requires that he/she wear a helmet. We strongly recommend that everyone, regardless of age, use a safety helmet. As the operator of the bike, you should provide your passenger with a helmet and require that he/she wear it while riding.
Added weight changes your ride. The extra passenger will substantially change the control of your bike. The throttle and clutch will operate a bit differently from the stopped position with the extra weight. When you’re on the road, you will need to brake sooner than normal. Be sure to give yourself plenty of space from the vehicle ahead of you in case it suddenly stops. Begin braking earlier for stoplights and signs. Finally, remember that you do not have the freedom and agility you normally possess on a motorcycle with the added weight of the passenger. You will need more time and space to pass. This is especially important to remember before making a pass on a two-lane highway.
We hope these safety blogs have been a helpful refresher for you. Attorney Kenneth Christensen, founder of the Christensen Law Firm, has authored a book about motorcycle accidents that will be available in the coming weeks. This book provides detailed information on motorcycle insurance policies, how to work with insurance adjusters, and how to determine whether you need to hire a lawyer for your case.
As a public service, Mr. Christensen is offering “The Motorcycle Accident Handbook” FREE to residents of Utah. For more information on this book, or one of the other consumer protection books Mr. Christensen has authored, visit http://utahaccidentbooks.com/.