People have many different reasons for choosing to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. Some of them think that the helmets do not make that much of a difference, so they choose not to wear them. Others do not like the weight or complain about how they feel the helmets restrict their vision.
What's clear from the statistics, however, is that the helmets do work. They do. They save lives.
A crosswalk may give you the right of way. It may give you some protection in the sense that it alerts drivers that pedestrians may cross the road at that point. But it does not protect you at all when those drivers make a mistake. This is why it's so important to know what steps you can take to keep yourself safe.
To get you started, here are a few important safety tips:
This year, Daylight Saving Time comes to a conclusion on Nov. 3. That's when we will "fall back" and change the clocks in California and many other states. It's important to remember this for scheduling purposes, though modern smartphones -- which many people use almost exclusively to tell time -- should reset themselves.
However, even if you don't end up being late for work, that's not to say that the end of Daylight Saving Time will have no impact on you. It means more driving in the dark during your daily commute. The winter months have shorter days and many workers end up driving both their commute to and from work in the dark.
As a motorcyclist, you always need to be aware of exactly what is happening in traffic around you. That's the main key to defensive driving. You need to react as soon as you can when someone else makes a mistake.
When you get close to an intersection, though, it's time to take things up a notch. Be even more attentive. Watch traffic more carefully. Plan your escape routes and be prepared to react instantly.
Issues at a four-way stop can be catastrophic for a motorcyclist. If another driver makes a mistake and proceeds through the intersection at the wrong time, they can cause a devastating accident. Motorcyclists properly riding through the intersection may literally never realize what hit them, as they couldn't anticipate the crash and had the right of way.
As such, it is important for all drivers to know the basic rules of a four-way stop. In all instances, drivers must stop at the sign and check in the other directions before continuing. They have to yield to any traffic already in the intersection. But when can they proceed? The main rules are:
One of the most dangerous situations at an intersection is when someone runs a red light. The drivers on the cross street often have no idea they are at risk as they enter the intersection, and many of these crashes happen at high speeds as people try to beat the yellow light and fail to do so.
How dangerous is this? More than ever. A recent study found that we hit a 10-year-high when looking at the fatalities coming from this illegal practice of red-light running.
If you lose a loved one in a car accident, the most natural reaction in the world is to go through a period of grief or mourning. You never need to feel bad about this or assume that you have to move on quickly. Take the time to mourn properly. Turn to friends and relatives for emotional support. Do not be afraid to talk to medical professionals about what you're experiencing, if necessary.
With all of that in mind, you clearly are hoping to move forward with your life in time. Most people see notable progress within the first year. When you don't, and you pass that 12-month mark, that's when you know that you are experiencing prolonged grief.
It's fairly clear that motorcycle helmets can protect you during a crash. However, many riders point out that they need to be able to see and hear perfectly to avoid getting into an accident in the first place. Any restriction on their senses could make an accident more likely. As such, they don't always want to wear helmets, which they believe make it harder to hear traffic around them and to see what's happening on the road, especially in their peripheral vision.
Is there any validity to these claims?
You get to the crosswalk and wait at the intersection. You use the time to check your phone, so you actually don't notice when it switches to the walk symbol. By the time you look up, it's a red hand that is flashing. You look at the lights on the street going the same direction, and they're green. Now what?
Most people would just try to cross. After all, the lights going that way for the cars are still red. The flashing hand means that pedestrians haven't been instructed to stop crossing yet. Isn't it safe?
In California, there's a lot to love about driving a convertible. You get to feel that warm summer sun on your face, you get to feel the wind in your hair and you really feel like you are part of this beautiful landscape as you drive through the countryside.
However, this is not without risk. The unfortunate reality is that convertibles offer far less protection if you get involved in a rollover accident. You do not have the benefits of a full protective cage, your head could strike the pavement and you could suffer serious head and brain injuries that you would have avoided in a sedan, a pickup truck or some other type of fully enclosed vehicle.
Law Offices of Fred D. Crawford, IV
404 Torrance Blvd.
Redondo Beach,
CA
90277
Phone:
310-421-4732
Fax:
310-792-3739
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