God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Control has a very special meaning to motorcyclists. When you’re on a bike, there are many things that you cannot change. Things such as road conditions, other drivers and the occasional deer or squirrel that darts into your path… these are out of your control.

However, your own riding behavior, reaction time and motorcycle intelligence are things that you can change. These three integral parts of accident avoidance should be well-known before any new motorcyclist takes their first ride.

Riding Behavior

Good riding behavior is the first step in preventing a motorcycle crash. Get into the habit of riding safely and carefully, wearing all the gear all the time (ATGATT), and keeping an eye out for dangerous drivers and other road hazards. Don’t become one of those careless riders that speeds, weaves in and out of traffic, tailgates and cuts people off, and ignores highway safety laws.

Reaction Time

A quick reaction time is essential to avoiding fatal motorcycle crashes. As soon as you mount your motorcycle, shift your brain into a hyper-alert state, ready to respond to any circumstances with lightning-fast speed. Never attempt to ride when you are sleepy or inebriated.

Motorcycle Intelligence

Take a motorcycle safety course. Then, take it again next year. Take it as many times as you need to refresh your riding skills each year, especially after the long hiatus of winter. Motorcycle safety courses teach everything you need to know about avoiding and preventing motorcycle accidents, as well as give you the opportunity to practice some life-saving riding techniques.

These important tips will help you to change the things that you can, and help you gain control no matter what happens while you are out on the road. While others may blame their accidents on the weather, the road conditions, the traffic or the wildlife, you will be able to brag about how well you handled your own motorcycle to avoid crashing entirely.

Too bad you can’t make “how I avoided crashing” reports to your insurance company.