TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022
Riding a motorcycle is a lot different from driving a car. Given the risks, riders often face significant penalties if they break the law. This could tarnish the biker’s driving record. It might even lead to increased insurance prices. If you accumulate a lot of driving charges, you need to take a step back and look at your driving practices.
Practices that often lead to driving charges are ignoring safety equipment rules and insurance requirements. These responsibilities often lie directly with the operator. While they’re not precisely related to the operation of the bike, they play important roles in safety. Therefore, low-risk biking starts with you. If you need to improve your driving practices, take proactive steps to do so. Safety is one of the best ways to improve your driving record.
Always Carry Motorcycle Insurance
The law is very clear in most states. Drivers must carry certain forms of auto insurance. Motorcycles are not excluded from this requirement. Failing to carry insurance on your motorcycle could result in various penalties. Penalties might include SR-22 certificates or the suspension of your driving privileges.
Keep in mind, you cannot insure a bike with standard car insurance. You will need motorcycle insurance. Often, motorcycle insurance mimics standard auto insurance. However, coverage elements will more closely mirror the specifications of motorcycles. Bike policies will often include:
- Liability insurance in case your actions cause injury or property damage to others. If you are at-fault in an accident, your policy can help you compensate those who suffer as a result of your actions.
- Collision coverage to protect the bike in case of an accident. You can usually tailor your coverage to help you repair or replace the bike with a similar model.
- Comprehensive coverage to help bikers repair damage not resulting from accidents. For example, theft or a fire might destroy or damage your motorcycle. This coverage can cover resulting damage.
Your state’s insurance laws will likely mandate the coverage you must carry. Otherwise, you have discretion to augment your policy to meet your needs. Therefore, it’s a good idea to work with your insurance agent to establish a strong policy. The closer attention you pay to your insurance, the lesser your chances of violating the law. Other coverage you might consider purchasing is roadside assistance protection, uninsured/underinsured coverage and personal injury protection (PIP).
Use Protection When Riding
An additional safety element that bikers have to think about is the use of protective gear. This is often something that most standard drivers don’t think about, beyond the use of seatbelts. However, motorcycles use mandates much stronger protection.
When you ride your bike, you don’t have the four sides of the automobile to protect you. Bikes expose their riders to the open air. Great speeds and hard winds, coupled with this exposure, usually increase the chances of personal injury should the biker experience an accident.
Most states, therefore, take motorcyclist safety very seriously. Multiple states have protective gear laws to help bikers stay safe when riding. Most often, these laws require bikers to wear helmets when they operate. However, other safety practices might include:
- Wearing pads around the knees, elbows and chest.
- Always wearing insulated clothing. This can help protect riders from the elements.
- Using strong shoes to improve balance and grips
- Wearing goggles to help improve vision while riding.
All riders can benefit from the right gear. If you violate motorcycle safety law, you will likely face stringent penalties. Failing to use safety gear often signifies to both the authorities and insurers that you are a high-risk biker. Always wear the required gear if it’s the law. However, even if you don’t have a law to mandate protection, that doesn’t mean going without it.
The Effects of Improving Your Record
Driving records are often variable documents. This means that over time, certain driving infractions can disappear from your record. However, more severe charges might stay permanently on your form. Therefore, it’s imperative that you do all you can to remain safe while you drive. It can often have positive influences on your personal security.
A clean record might help improve your insurance risks. Insurers frequently use your record to determine the premium you pay for coverage. If your insurer sees a lot of violations, this will likely indicate to them that you are a high-risk biker. One area where they will likely see a significant risk is if you’ve ever gone without insurance. They might be more likely to increase your premiums as a result.
Keeping a clean record also reflects well in the eyes of the law. If you pay attention to your own safety, the authorities are less likely to view you as a high-risk operator as well. You’re less likely to encounter stringent penalties if you do commit a minor infraction.
So, pay careful attention to personal safety as you begin to bike. A commitment to personal safety often demonstrates that you’re a lower risk to insurers and the authorities. Such commitment often leads to rewards.
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