Keeping Motorcyclists Safe

For some travelers, the appeal of the open road is stronger when riding on two wheels. There’s nothing like riding a motorcycle to immerse your senses in your surroundings. That open-air experience comes with a price, however. Riders must be hyper-attentive to motorcycle safety and to other vehicles on the road. Here are some tips and insights to help bikers stay safe as they enjoy the open road.

Technology for bikers

Just as technology has helped improve automotive safety, it’s doing the same for motorcycle safety.

• Antilock brakes help keep the bike under control in slippery conditions or when the rider must brake hard.
• Adaptive headlights improve a biker’s ability to see in the dark, especially when they turn a corner or go around a bend in the road.
• Electronic tire pressure monitoring helps ensure proper tire inflation, which improves handling.
• And just as automobiles are adopting sensors that can alert drivers to dangers, collision-avoidance tech is coming to motorcycles, offering alerts for forward collision, safe following distance, blind spots and more.

Tech improvements for motorcycle safety aren’t limited to the bike. Riders are benefiting from innovative gear that offers more protection. Airbag jeans, vests and bodysuits allow a person to ride normally, but they inflate immediately before a fall. Helmets can include cameras to help eliminate blind spots, and wireless communication to let riders talk with one another and hear navigation instructions. Augmented reality is expected to arrive soon, so a motorcyclist will be able to see maps and the speedometer without having to look away from the road.