With the number of motorcyclists growing steadily year after year, it’s unsurprising to see that the statistics for motorcycle road accidents has also been increasing. Common causes included driving without the proper gear, driving in a state of inebriation, swerving, not practicing defensive driving skills, and not driving carefully enough in bad weather. 

If you’re a motorcyclist, worrying about accidents may be nothing new to you. But you can make sure something constructive comes out of these worries, both for your own sake as well as that of others on the road. To that end, here are six easy tips that will greatly improve your safety and lessen your chances of getting into motorcycle accidents. 

1. Brush up on your defensive driving skills. Remember that you aren’t the only one who may be responsible for an accident on the road. Several other things factor into that situation, such as other vehicles and other drivers’ compliance of traffic rules. The best approach is to be a defensive driver: keeping left, following the “two-second rule” of changing positions and occupying a space on the road, slowing down while braking and turning, and keeping a safe distance between your bike and other vehicles around it.

2. Choose the safest possible conditions to ride in. If you can help it, avoid driving your motorcycle in rainy weather, as that’s when a number of road accidents occur. Do not attempt to ride when you see lightning strike; you’ll never know if it will hit you or distract you from your course. If it’s absolutely necessary to travel by motorbike during a storm, do take extra caution when on wet and muddy roads, reduce your riding speed, and apply more rear brake.

3.  Wear protective and functional gear. Your motorcycle gear serves two functions: (1) it protects you from injury and from the elements, and (2) it makes you more visible, and thus less at risk of being hit, to others on the road. You’ll want to wear a helmet with a clear and scratch-free visor, some gloves, pants, and closed-toed shoes when you’re riding. In addition, you may want to wear bright colors or clothes with reflective stripes on them to make you more conspicuous as a rider.

4. Have a maintenance schedule for your motorcycle. Vehicle failure is yet another cause of road accidents. If your bike isn’t well-maintained, there’s a chance that it could break down while you’re on the road—and then you could lose control and smash into a blind corner, or worse, another person. Do avoid the worst-case scenario by getting regular maintenance done on your bike and replacing parts as necessary. Upgrade worn-out tires so that your vehicle doesn’t slip; switch out your old brakes for new brakes with better stop quality; and equip your bike with reliable lights so that signaling won’t be difficult.

5. Enroll your motorcycle for insurance, and know the ins and outs of your policy. In a country like Singapore, insurance is mandatory for all motorcycle drivers. But don’t let it end just at securing an insurance policy: keep both hard copies and digital copies with you, and don’t hesitate to ask your insurance provider for their advice if you need help understanding certain terms.

6. Be calm, levelheaded, and considerate always. Though no motorcycle driver has 100% control over their circumstances, what they do have full control over is their attitude. Many a bad situation has escalated because someone gave in to their temper. Keep misdemeanors, misunderstandings, and dangerous incidences of road rage in check by staying in control of your emotions. And lastly, don’t forget to be considerate of everyone around you—you are part of a community that values human safety and the rule of law, and that applies in traffic as well as everywhere else.

If you do find yourself involved in a motorcycle accident and you seek legal assistance for personal injury, property damages, or loss of livelihood, consider an expert like Viviene Sandhu. Viviene is a partner at top Singaporean firm Clifford Law. One of her main practice areas is personal injury claims, in particular for cases involving vehicular accidents. Read up on her recent achievement—winning $690,000 in damages for a motorcyclist—in the link above.