This summer, the Saskatchewan Safety Council urges all motorcyclists to learn safe motorcycling practices. "Safety must be a top priority for all motorcycle riders when they're out on the road", says Barry Muir, Chief Motorcycle Instructor for the Saskatchewan Safety Council's Motorcycle Training Program. "Riding a motorcycle is meant to be an enjoyable experience. Learning how to ride the right way can help to prevent unneeded mishaps from occurring."
If you are a rider or are thinking about becoming a rider, the Saskatchewan Safety Council offers training programs for riders of all levels. Before you consider committing time, energy and money into becoming a motorcyclist there are some questions you should ask yourself:
Do you take higher risks than others you know? If you need to enjoy a thrill and have risky or aggressive tendencies then motorcycling may not be for you. Thinking that incidents won't happen to you is an attitude that will get you into trouble.
Can you see well? Riding a motorcycle requires exceptional perceptual skills that rely on good vision which are important for safe riding.
Are you safety-minded? Riders can control their situations only if safety is a high priority. If you constantly find yourself injured because of preventable incidents then motorcycling may not be compatible with the decisions that you make.
Can you focus? Incidents are prone to happen because of a lack of focus and attention. Riding safely requires dedicated attention and keen awareness to everything that is happening 360 degrees around you.
Are you willing to invest some time into learning to ride the right way before jumping onto a bike? The Saskatchewan Safety Council offers courses that aim to help motorcycle riders of all levels prepare to ride safely. For more information on a course in your area visit www.sasksafety.org.
