Florida Motorcycle Handbook 2009

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1. Preparing to Ride

• 1.1. Wear the Right Gear
• 1.2. Know your Motorcycle
• 1.3. Know your Responsibilities

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KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

"Accident" implies an unforeseen event that occurs without anyone's fault or negligence. Most often in traffic, that is not the case. In fact, most people involved in a crash can usually claim some responsibility for what takes place.

Consider a situation where someone decides to try to squeeze through an intersection on a yellow light turning red. Your light turns green. You pull into the intersection without checking for possible latecomers. That is all it takes for the two of you to tangle. It was the driver's responsibility to stop. And it was your responsibility to look before pulling out. Neither of you held up your end of the deal. Just because someone else is the first to start the chain of events leading to a crash, it doesn't leave any of us free of responsibility.

As a rider you can't be sure that other operators will see you or yield the right of way. To lessen your chances of a crash occurring:

• Be visible - wear proper clothing, use your headlight, ride in the best lane position to see and be seen.
• Communicate your intentions - use the proper signals, brake light and lane position.
• Maintain an adequate space cushion - following, being followed, lane sharing, passing and being passed.
• Scan your path of travel 12 seconds ahead.
• Identify and separate multiple hazards.
• Be prepared to act - remain alert and know how to carry out proper crash-avoidance skills.

Blame doesn't matter when someone is injured in a crash. There is rarely a single cause of any crash. The ability to ride aware, make critical decisions, and carry them out separates responsible riders from all the rest. Remember, it is up to you to keep from being the cause of, or an unprepared participant in, any crash.

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