Rainy Day Motorcycle Safety

People who have never lived in Florida have an unrealistic idea about the Florida summers.  They think it is all sunshine all the time, that you can ride your motorcycle all day long, only stopping at a bar or a 7-Eleven when you need a beverage to beat the heat.  They are incredulous when you say that it rains almost every day in Florida in the summer.  This means that, if you are planning to ride your motorcycle in Florida, it is almost inevitable that you will ride in the rain.  Florida summer rainstorms are rarely short, so simply parking your bike in a strip mall parking lot and then standing under an awning until the rain stops is not an option.  You will need to prepare to stay safe during a sustained rain.  If you got injured in a motorcycle accident where rainy weather was a contributing factor, contact a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer.

Dress for Maximum Safety and Visibility

If you are riding on a rainy day, it is best to wear a rain suit and waterproof boots and gloves; wet clothes are uncomfortable enough to be a significant distraction.  Just as cars’ windshields get foggy in rainy weather, so do motorcycle helmets’ visors, and this is even more dangerous than driving a car with a foggy windshield.  Some visors have anti-fog settings or electronic defrost buttons; if yours has this, riding in the rain will be much easier.  Even if your helmet does not have this technology, you should wear a clear visor instead of a tinted one on rainy day rides.

Set Your Bike to Rain Mode

Some motorcycles have a rain mode setting that adjusts the bike’s throttle and brakes to cope with wet roads.  Even if your bike does not have this technology, you should adjust your throttle to the smoothest setting when you are riding in the rain.

Ride on the Driest Part of the Road

Even new roads are not perfectly even, and you have probably noticed that rain tends to pool on certain parts of the road.  You will have a safer ride if you avoid riding through puddles; this is easier to do on a motorcycle than in a car, because you can drive around the puddles without changing lanes.  Likewise, you should avoid parts of the road that are naturally slippery, such as painted lines, manhole covers, and steel gratings.  The road is also more slippery near intersections, since there is more oil there on the road, as it drips from cars when they wait at a red light.

Florida Storms Are More Than Just Rain

Some Florida storms are too much even for the most courageous and more sensible rider.  You can protect yourself from rain but not from lightning or tropical storm force winds.  If it is a storm scary enough to be the setting of a Florida Man tale, it is best to postpone your ride until after the storm passes.

Set Up a Consultation Today

A personal injury lawyer can help you if you suffered injuries arising from a motorcycle accident where the road was wet.  Contact Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale, Florida or call 954-566-919 to explore your potential recovery options today.

Source:

cycleworld.com/sport-rider/five-tips-for-riding-motorcycle-in-rain-0/