Bikes are the most common form of personal transport for various reasons like its affordibility, easy maneovoring on the roads, easy navigation and parking feasibility. However, 95% of the road accidents involve two wheelers, hence it is imperative to follow certai safety precautions while riding a bike.

Safety Tips to Follow for Bike Riders:

Always Wear a Helmet

Wearing a helmet can prevent head injuries and save lives during fatal collisions. According to a WHO report, just wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 42 percent and head injuries by 69 percent. A good quality helmet is one that fully covers the face and jaws and is fitted with a glass shield to protect your eyes against the wind, rain and dust while riding the bike. So, while buying a bike, invest in a couple of good quality ISI-mark helmets.

Wear appropriate Safety Gear

Bike riders need to adequately wear appropriate gear and clothing such as leather jackets, elbow guards, boots with non-slippery soles, and gloves to cover areas of the body that may be prone to injuries during accidents. For road trip lovers, wearing appropriate safety gear is all the more essential and cannot be discarded at any cost.

Follow Traffic Rules

Follow the traffic rules diligently and try not to violate them deliberately. Traffic rules are framed in the best interests and safety of the citizens. Avoid excesses such as driving under influence of alcohol, over speeding or riding more than one pillion. Also, while driving in the nighttime or on highways, always carry an extra and try to stay away from blind spots of heavy vehicles like trucks and containers etc. Turn on the headlights or indicators of the bike during nighttime for other vehicles to be able to notice your bike.

Ensure Regular Bike Service

Ensure that your bike is in good condition before you go for a ride. Regular servicing of the bike at authorised service centres helps maintain the bike parts such as the clutch, brakes, air pressure, head and tail lights, engine, etc., in good condition. The better the condition of the bike parts, the greater shall be the bike’s mileage, and lesser shall be the probability of accidents. This will also ensure fuel efficiency and reduce the risks of acidents.

Avoid Riding under Turbulent Weather

Avoid riding your bike amidst bad weather conditions, especially during heavy, windy rains or foggy winters. The roads are usually to be slippery in turbulent weather and visibility tends to be poor increasing the chances of accidents.

Keep your bike documents handy and updated

It is mandatory to carry all the bike documents such as a valid Driving License, registration certificate (RC), pollution under control certificate (PUCC) and insurance papers along when you go out for a ride. You could download and save your respective documents on Digilocker App on your mobile phone. This also ensures you do not need to move around with all your bike’s original documents and run the risk of losing them.

Buy a bike to match your comfort

Last but not the least, buying a bike that you can comfortably ride and smoothly handle is a key thumb rule that can ensure your safety. The two-wheeler market is replete with several bikes that are appealing but looks can be deceptive. Few bikes that might seem trendy may not provide you with the much-needed comfort or physical balance during a ride. Thus, it is important to opt for a bike that suits your comfort, physical stamina and fits into your budget.

Carry an emergency kit

As a biker, you must always carry a basic emergency kit whenever you go for a ride. The kit should consist of basic tool-set for emergency repair, a first aid kit and a puncture kit with air pump. This seems trivial, but will prove to be a real lifesaver when stuck in an emergency situation.

Avoid mobile usage

Using a mobile phone while driving is the biggest cause of distraction and the risk of an accident is even higher when riding a two-wheeler.Drivers who use mobile phones while at the wheel are four times more likely to be involved in accidents, according to the World Health Organisation. It’s far more dangerous if drivers are texting as they take their eyes off the road, posing a much higher risk for all road-users.

Conclusion:

Deciding on a bike that matches your comfort and physical stamina may, at times, slightly exceed your budget. Worry not, bike loans or two-wheeler loans are here to financially fulfil your decision of buying the chosen bike. Bike loans from reliable lenders usually offer a loan amount of upto 95 percent of the bike’s on-road price. Applying for a two-wheeler loan or bike loan at HDB Financial services online or by visiting the nearest physical branch is now a quick and convenient process with minimal documentation.