You recently bought your first bike. Congratulations. Here are some of the key points you need to know about motorcycle safety for beginners and motorcycle insurance in Georgia so you can ride responsibly and stay safe.
Preparing to Ride: Safety Starts Before the Engine Does
Safe riding practices begin with the right preparation. Just like your motorcycle insurance protects you financially, other gear is designed to protect you physically. Remember, bikers have a saying: It’s not if, it’s when. You will be out there among people driving larger vehicles who may not pay enough attention to keep you safe.
Here are some motorcycle gear items to put on your list.
Helmet
According to Georgia helmet laws, this bit of gear is mandatory for both rider and passenger. Everyone aboard must wear a helmet, but not just any headgear. Your helmet must meet the standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation. DOT-approved helmets will have a DOT sticker with the words “FMVSS No. 218 CERTIFIED” and the name of the manufacturer.
If you’re shopping online, search for “DOT-certified motorcycle helmets,” or similar.
Jacket
Of course, you need a leather motorcycle jacket because it’s cool, but that’s hardly the only reason. For one thing, you might need a jacket to stay warm when you’re traveling on an open-air ride at 60 miles an hour. But more to the point, you need the protection a quality jacket offers.
Your motorcycle jacket of leather or some other tough and durable textile should have CE-certified armor embedded into the shoulders, back, and elbows, and should have reinforced stitching. It’s got to be able to add to your safety in the event of a spill.
Your jacket should fit snugly so nothing gets in the way when you ride, but not be so tight that you can’t move your arms freely.
Don’t just buy your jacket to make a fashion statement. Feel the material, try it on, and check out the armor points and see how protected you feel.
Gloves
Gloves of leather or similarly rugged material play multiple roles. They should give you a better grip on the handlebars and keep your hands from getting numb in cold temperatures. But their main function is to protect against cuts, abrasions, and impact injuries if you dump your bike. A good pair will have armor at the knuckles and palms and feel indestructible. Try them on to make sure they fit your hands snugly so you’ll be able to operate your bike easily with them.
Boots
Again, functionality is of greater importance than style (though you’ll probably get that, too). Look for armor reinforcing the toe, heel, and shank. You’ll want an oil-resistant heel and a good fit. After all, there are few articles of clothing less comfortable than a poorly-fitting pair of motorcycle boots.
Complete a Motorcycle Certified Course
It’s not mandatory in the State of Georgia, but it’s an excellent idea to get thoroughly educated on bike safety before you hit the road for the first time.
Georgian motorcyclists have two choices before getting that first Class M motorcycle license. You can complete an official Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) course or pass a road test conducted by the state’s Department of Driver Services (DDS) at any service location.
You can register for a GMSP course here. Through this state-sanctioned course, you’ll learn how to ride defensively and reduce your risk of a motorcycle accident or injury.
Ride Like You’re Invisible
Bad news: You don’t have much protection on a motorcycle. No seatbelts and likely no airbags. Better news: If you develop a strategy of assuming that other motorists don’t see you — you’re virtually invisible to them — it will help you maintain a safety-first attitude at the throttle.
Here’s what you’ll watch out for on your “ghost rides.”
Blind Spots
Assume that drivers in the right-hand lane can’t see you as you pass them on the left, and might sideswipe you in switching lanes. Always know what’s ahead of that other driver so you can better predict their actions. For instance, if they’re quickly approaching a vehicle ahead of them in the same lane, they might choose that moment to pass.
By assuming you’re in everyone’s blind spot, you’ll be prepared for any action that might put you at risk.
Car Driver Behavior
A drunk or careless driver might result in a fender bender if you’re driving another car. If you’re on a bike, the outcome could be much worse. That’s why you must always be on the lookout for motorists driving carelessly or erratically.
It’s not always about being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A motorist messing with a phone or being distracted by kids or other passengers can be just as dangerous if they don’t see you or react as they should. For that reason, you must always be on guard for drivers traveling too fast or slow, drifting in and out of lanes, exhibiting road rage symptoms, or otherwise posing a threat to you.
Head-On Positioning
This is a rider technique. You’re literally leading your bike with your head (and eyes). Position your gaze where you want to go. Look at the horizon as you make a turn rather than at the street or road surface. As you get comfortable with head-on positioning, your bike will go where your head is positioned.
Safe Following Distance
Once again, tapping the back bumper of another car or truck when you’re in a similar vehicle might just cause a little damage. Do the same when you’re on a bike, and it could be fatal. That’s why you must always maintain a safe distance.
Observe the four-second rule. That means, at highway speed, watching the vehicle ahead of you pass a landmark — a parked car, a building, or a sign will do — and make sure you don’t pass that same landmark until you’ve counted off at least four seconds. That’s a safe following distance.
Make Sure You’re Properly Insured
This is critical for at least two reasons. It’s the law in Georgia, and it will protect your wallet if you have the right coverage.
The state mandates that all registered motorcyclists must have at least liability coverage. This offers financial protection against the property damage and legal actions of third parties if you’re responsible for an accident. As for your own bike, liability won’t cover it. If you total your ride or sustain thousands of dollars in damages, that comes out of your own wallet. If you can’t afford it, you’re on foot or traveling by car until you can kickstart again.
A much less risky move is to get full coverage. This includes collision and comprehensive benefits. Collision is pretty much what it sounds like. You can use it to fix or replace your ride after an at-fault collision, up to your coverage limits and minus your deductible.
Comprehensive covers all of the countless other ways your bike might be lost or damaged. That can include everything from theft or vandalism to a fire torching your garage or storage site, or your bike hitting road hazards, or getting swept away in a sudden hurricane or windstorm.
Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay before your coverage kicks in. If you have a $500 deductible on a $1,500 damage claim, your insurer will reimburse you $1,000, and you’ll be responsible for that $500 portion.
The higher your deductible, the more you’ll pay out of pocket — but the lower your insurance premiums will be. Discuss this with your motorcycle insurance agent to arrive at the sweet spot between deductible and premium that’s right for you.
Your coverage limit is the maximum amount your insurance company will pay. It’s based on the value of your bike and what you want to pay in premiums.