Always wear the correct safety clothing & equipment

Riding Jacket with back, shoulder & elbow protection. Riding trousers with hip & knee protection, suitable riding boots (not trainers)! Gloves with knuckle protection & crash helmet.

Always ride within your capabilities

If riding in a group situation DO NOT be tempted to keep up with faster riders, they will wait for you, so don’t put yourself at an unnecessary risk.

Ride to the 2 second rule

Only a fool ignores the 2 second rule (try it 😉 )

Master limit points & be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear on your side of the road.

The limit point is the furthest point where you have an uninterrupted view of the road surface as it disappears over the brow of a hill or around a bend. It is the point where the two edges of the road appear to meet. On a left hand bend you should treat this as where the left hand verge appears to meet the centre line.

Never forget your life savers or mirror checks

When changing speed or lane always check your mirrors first before indicating then apply your life saver to check blind spots. This is applicable on over takes & when moving back to the nearside. Also very import when riding in built up areas

Information – TUG

Take –  Keep your head up for better vision constantly looking around at the front & sides of your motorbike. Consistently using mirrors & checking blind sports. Pay particular attention to any hazards, pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicles, parked or moving. try to make eye contact with other road users to assist in communication.

Use – By identifying seemingly normal items such as bins at the roadside or a sign for a school in the distance you can plan for potential hazards. Such as bins out you could meet the collection lorry round the corner, or pedestrians collecting / filling them. A school sign could mean kids running across the road in front you

Give – Reinforce your position & intentions on the road by accurate signalling to other road users. Try to make eye contact to assist with communication & always give a nod or wave when someone gives way to you.

Position

Position yourself accurately on the road reduces the risk of collision. However, the ideal position will vary according to road layout, surface & traffic conditions. Remember though Safety first.. Never compromise your safety for road position.

Gears & Acceleration

You should be it the correct gear for the speed you are travelling at & aim to have enough flexibility to deal with the circumstances without having to constantly change gear. Higher gears are more eco-friendly as long as they provide adequate performance. Acceleration should be smooth & progressive when getting up to speed.

Riding at night

Presents unique challenges for riders., the limit of vision is dictated by the performance of your headlights, the condition of your visor & your own eyesight. Remember you must be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear on your side of the road so adjust your speed accordingly.

Ride at a speed suitable for the road & weather conditions

The Highway Code gives advice on riding in inclement weathers covering Rain, Snow & Ice, Bright Sunlight, High Winds & Fog. Common sense applies & remember it is a speed limit, not a target.