S10Ep15 Your Guide to Ultimate Motorcycle Safety

The chances of fatality in a motorcycle crash are approximately 30 times higher than in a car accident. But that doesn't have to be a hard and fast rule. SafeStart's resident motorcycle expert Michael Blandford provides safety tips for motorcycle riders and those who share the road with them.

Host: Tim Page-Bottorff
Guest: Michael Blandford


https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-motorcycle-crashes

https://msf-usa.org/brc.aspx

​​https://msf-usa.org/core.aspx

Transcript

Motorcycle Safety Tips and Gear

Tim Page-Bottorff 0:07

Hey , welcome back to Safe Talk with Safe Start . I'm Tim Page-Bottorff , and obviously , with the warmer weather , we've got motorcycle riders out there on the road again , and so now there's a lot that we as vehicle drivers can do to keep our two-wheel brotheran safe . And now , for example , just using our Safe Start skills on the road . That's what I'd like to focus on today , and that's just one of those big examples where we can assist our other motorcycle operators on the road , and motorcycle operators themselves can use these skills as well .

Tim Page-Bottorff 0:40

But the reality is that a crash as a motorcyclist is almost 30 times more likely to be fatal than just being in a car . And that's all , according to the Insurance Information Institute . And , by the way , you'll find that the Institute's stat sheet is going to be in the show notes for you as a reference . So I'm no expert on this subject . As a matter of fact , I try to stay far , far away from motorcycles . So I've reached out to my good friend , who actually is a great motorcycle operator , Michael Blanford , who is a fellow Safe Start consultant , also a retired Maryland State Trooper . He is our resident biker expert . Mike , welcome back to the podcast .

Michael Blanford 1:21

Hey , thanks for having me , Tim . You know this is a subject I'm pretty passionate about .

Tim Page-Bottorff 1:26

Yeah , you bet I'll tell you what I know , that you know being a trooper . You've got some great experience and you've got , obviously , on the enforcement side , but also even better , now that you're in Safe Start , you're on the friend side . So it's not like people are approaching you with saying , oh , here comes a cop , it's more like Oh , here comes a friend . And I knew that when we came up with this idea , I wanted you as a guest for that reason . So , Michael , let's just kind of start with the easy stuff . Let's talk about the gear that you need for a motorcycle operator .

Michael Blanford 1:55

All right , that's a great place to start . Your listeners may not know this , but I live in sunny Florida , so here , of course , it's biking season all year round , but it really picks up in the summertime , so this is the season for it , right now . A tip for everyone If you see a rider with , shorts , and flip-flops , give them plenty of room , because they clearly don't know what they're doing . Let's start with a good helmet , though I know all states don't require them , and I'm calling a few of them out Illinois , Iowa , New Hampshire each Canadian province has its own motorcycle safety laws , much like the states in the US . If you've seen what I've seen as a state trooper , you would not even question putting on a helmet . Also , in my case , I love to ride with my lady , and if you do too , you don't wanna skimp on your partner's helmet .

Tim Page-Bottorff 3:02

I'll tell you what . Let me jump in here , Mike , real quick . Helmets in the States should also meet the Snell Foundation standards , or , for the most part , the Department of Transportation now , although Snell is preferred now within the DOT standard as it was written in 1972 , and nothing's much changed , whereas the Snell standard it actually gets updated every five years . And of course , our friends in Canada , the Canadian Standards Association , as D230 for safety helmets They also . They have this monogram that's required on helmets through the Canadian Standards Association and testing laboratories . But regardless of the standard , I believe you all should have a closed helmet with a reflected face and that's a shield to cut down on the glare on most sunny days . Would you agree ?

Michael Blanford 3:51

Yeah , I do . Someone right now was asking who the heck is Snell ? William P Snell was a popular amateur sports car race driver in the 50s . In 1956 , during a sports car club of America racing event , he died of a massive head injury when the auto racing helmet he was wearing failed to protect his head .

Tim Page-Bottorff 4:14

Hey , thanks for that history lesson . I really do appreciate it . I do have no idea how many lives the foundation has saved due to their work , but let's move beyond helmets , agreeing that this is probably the most important part , or at least the best PPE to be worn , but it's not the only gear that you're gonna need . That's just the most important . What do you think ?

Michael Blanford 4:36

Yeah , I have to agree with you and , contrary to popular belief , looking cool is not the top priority when getting on your motorcycle . Protection with leathers or reinforced jackets , pants and boots that completely cover your ankles and skin is really important . I've heard and seen way too many horror stories where proper footwear or foot gear was not used . Use your imagination on this one . It's pretty gruesome , Tim , and when we talk about glasses and or goggles , they're a must If you have an open-faced helmet and to protect your hands , you always have to wear some sort of gloves or protection . In warm weather , there are special design gear that is intended for ventilation and , of course , cooling .

Tim Page-Bottorff 5:26

I hate to see what would happen in cold weather , but you probably know some people that would actually operate their motorcycle in cold weather as well , but we'll just stick with the warm weather for now . Thank you for that , Michael . Now are there motorcycle training courses that are out there , Mike ?

Michael Blanford 5:40

Of course , that varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and some states actually do require that and some don't, either way , it's a good idea . The Motorcycle Safety Foundation is a great place to start to find a training class near you . You'll find courses on beginners and experts who are interested in improving their skills . The fact is , when I first moved to the state of Florida and I've been riding dirt bikes and motorcycles since I've been a kid I actually took a refresher course just to kind of bone up a little bit on my skills before I got back out there and riding more often and more months throughout the year .

Tim Page-Bottorff 6:24

Yeah , that's good to hear , Mike , and I'll be sure to put a show link in the websites for you and of course, it'll be in the show notes for this particular podcast . And I also want to say and reach out to all the branches of services out there . I know that every branch of services courses as well and all of you thank you for your service . Michael , I failed to mention in the very beginning , but thank you for your public service . But in preparation for this podcast, I actually kept coming across proper matching for you and your motorcycle . I mean , can you fill in what that means , Mike ?

Michael Blanford 6:54

Yeah , sure , make sure that your motorcycle is not more than you can handle . Your bike should fit you . That means your feet should be able to rest flat on the ground when seating , no tippy toes , and if the bike feels too heavy for you , it probably is . You want to be able to easily get on and off your motorcycle , and the handlebars and controls should be easily accessible to you and easy to reach .

Tim Page-Bottorff 7:23

Yeah , thanks for that , Mike . I have to say that for somebody of my size 235 pounds I'm thinking that I probably don't want to get on a little baby motorcycle, but maybe then again I don't want to get on a 10- cylinder I'm just kidding Like a V-Rod that's probably way too much for me . but as I joke , what are your feelings about riding in large groups , Mike ?

Michael Blanford 7:41

This is not a very popular question here , but my feeling is don't do it . But if you do , don't push yourself just to keep up with the pack . Always ride to your comfort level , not theirs . I don't recommend riding in groups . More people just increase the risk of mistakes and accidents when those things happen . If you are actually going to ride in a group , you want to place the more experienced riders in the back . Group rides sometimes and tragically , with less experienced riders trying to keep up with the skilled riders .

Tim Page-Bottorff 8:15

Yeah , that makes sense because they want to feel like they fit in . It's almost to the same level of actually looking cool , because that's what a lot of people like to do . But in that sense I have to say I kind of would have like imagine , like a pilot . It's kind of a good idea to give your bike basically a good all over an inspection . So in other words , you're basically taking this time to look at all the things on your motorcycle before each ride . So can you kind of give us an idea of what an all over inspection would look like ?

Michael Blanford 8:47

Oh , 100% . This is something that I've actually put in the habits years ago . Things you should check out every time you get on your motorcycle include , first and foremost , tire pressure . Of course you want to be diligent about your mirrors and have them in place where they need to be , and making sure all your lights and things of that sort work , but tire pressure is always at the top of my list . Taking a quick walk around your bike , of course , will give you an idea if there are any loose bolts , leaks or other potential mechanical hazards .

Motorcycle Safety and Maintenance Tips

Michael Blanford 9:19

You also need to be diligent about regular care and maintenance for your motorcycle . Don't delay fixing something that needs attention . Conduct all recommended regular maintenance , including all changes and chains and suspension adjustments , and stay on top of your brake pads and their wear . And I want to just add one more thing here to Tim , because we did speak a little bit about matching you up with your motorcycle . One thing about most motorcycles you can actually adjust the suspension so that it fits you And it only takes a slight turn of a wrench to adjust those handlebars to get them in a position where that motorcycle actually fits you . So I just wanted to add that little piece because I know we spoke about that a little bit early on .

Tim Page-Bottorff 10:10

Yeah , I don't . I appreciate that , Mike and you didn't mention about mirrors , and I have to say , well , mirrors are there for a reason . You're not gonna be able to solely rely on them to remain aware of what's basically in your immediate riding space . So to keep cognizant of your surroundings and , in your position , relationship to those around you , you got to use your head , ain't that right ?

Michael Blanford 10:31

Oh , of course . Yeah , actually , this is where your SafeS tart skill really shines . Just as you should When driving your car or your truck , the same principles apply when operating your motorcycle . Experienced riders know that is that is important to keep your head and eyes up while rounding corners , and that the safest way to change lanes is to actually turn and look over your shoulder to make sure You are in the clear . I refer to this honestly , Tim . As a quick , as a quick peek , you will also be able to get a feeling for whether the other drivers are paying attention to you . Also . As a Motorcyclist , you need to pay attention to the road at all times . Air on the side of caution when going in occurs . Be vigilant for potential gravel or other unstable road conditions . Be careful when crossing railroad tracks , because the paint , as you know , can be very slippery , especially in poor conditions , and the same thing applies for the white lines and stop signs too .

Tim Page-Bottorff 11:34

Yeah , that's a great idea , and I love the fact that you kind of hinted at looking at other people for hit the risk patterns that could contribute to an injury , an if you're a motorcyclist , you have this opportunity to avoid somebody else's mistakes . If you're sure , you know it's hard to pay attention to the road , but at the same time you want to make sure that those people are fully aware that you're around them , and so you mentioned something earlier back and inspections about brakes and mirrors . So talk to me a little bit about braking .

Michael Blanford 12:01

Okay , sure , first of all , just because you're on a motorcycle doesn't make it any easier for you to see other motorcycles . Always double check when changing lanes or , of course , turning . You also need to practice Braking in all sorts of conditions and I recommend practicing in an empty parking lot if you can and to make sure , to make sure that you are able to stop quick , that and it won't result in a tragedy . Always give extra space to vehicles in front of you and know how to stop on a dime without locking up your brakes . As a matter of fact , you might want to consider upgrading to anti lock brakes . According to the insurance Institute for Highway Safety Research , having ABS brakes on your bike can reduce the chances of being in a fatal accident by 37% .

Tim Page-Bottorff 12:53

Man , I would take that risk management that . That to me seems like a big chunk , but at the same time , I bet you everybody on this podcast , whether they've been on a motorcycle or not , can actually relate to pulling that left- hand brake on your bicycle and It stops that front wheel and you go kind of go head over heels . Well , the same could be applied to a motorcycle , but unfortunately, you're dealing with now lots of , lots of hazardous energy . So anyway , thank you for that . That was a great analogy , and 37% , I think , I want to take . I want to take that management . All right . So on the things you can't control , one of those being mother nature . What do you think about that one ?

Michael Blanford 13:34

Poor weather conditions . Man could have a huge effect on wet or icy road conditions . Not only do you have half the stability of a car , but in some cases the lack of a windshield and your body's exposure to driving in rain can add to the risk . A lack of visibility Is a rider's worst nightmare , and until you've been caught on your bike in the rain , you will never understand how much being pelted by raindrops at 30 or 50 miles per hour can actually hurt . When I get caught in the rain , I have a few things that automatically pop in my head . The first thing that I'm looking for is an overpass , of course . I live in Florida and there's almost a Starbucks on every corner , so otherwise I'll pull it to a Starbucks and wait it out . Man with a cup of coffee .

Tim Page-Bottorff 14:25

You know what I get . I give you major tribute to you are our Starbucks fiend , so today when I've hit , when I was thinking about hitting the record button , I wanted to make sure that I had my local Starbucks cup here . This is out of tribute to you , buddy . Again , before we actually hit the record button , you were actually telling me about sharing the love and I really never thought of about that way . You you want to expand on that ?

Michael Blanford 14:49

Sure , there's no denying that motorcycles are often overlooked or regarded as second-class citizens on the road . When you're on the road , always drive as if you're an ambassador for motorcyclists everywhere . Ride with courtesy , care and awareness that you are representing motorcyclists for those around you . Don't allow an urge to prove a point or retaliate against an inconsiderate driver overwhelm your better judgment . After all , that takes away from the joy , which is really why we're riding in the first place . And , when all is said and done , it boils down to a few things right , wear your gear , know your bike and know your ability . You can't control your environment , but you can control how you react to it .

Tim Page-Bottorff 15:39

I wish we could control how it rains outside . Anyways , thank you so much for that , Michael . That was a great message . Any final thoughts you actually want to leave us with ?

Clear Mind for Safe Riding

Michael Blanford 15:49

I guess one of the biggest dangers to a rider is getting on your bike in the wrong state of mind And , of course , this again is where your Safe Start training will really , really pay off . Riding angry , drowsy or distracted can be a recipe for disaster . Remember when you're on the road you are ultimately the only person looking out for you . If your mind and emotions are anywhere other than the road ahead , you are more than likely to make a rookie mistake that can end in a crash , injuries or even worse . Remember to self- trigger on rushing frustration and , of course , fatigue and for complacency work on those safety- related habits .

Tim Page-Bottorff 16:37

Man spoken like a true SafeS tart professional . That is seriously those are great words to remember and , Mike , thank you so much for lending some of your time and expertise with us . I really do appreciate it .

Michael Blanford 16:49

Hey man , it's my pleasure . It's always nice to catch up with you . My friend , much appreciated , yeah for sure .

Tim Page-Bottorff 16:55

And I feel the same way . Now we got to have you back pretty soon , so I want you to think about that , and we've got other topics that are coming up , and if there's anything you want to throw your head into , that would be great . We'd love to have you back . My thanks also to all of you out there , our listeners . A couple of reminders before I let you out of here . Be sure to share this episode with either a motorcycle friend or a rider , and don't forget to check the show notes out for the fact sheets that we talked about earlier . That will link for you And , on behalf of the team , I'm Tim Page-Bottorff for Safe Talk with Safe Start , reminding all of us that when you do encounter a motorcyclist , please give them plenty of them . I'll see you down the road .