The autumn season illustrates to us changing conditions, be them; Light, Weather, Road Conditions. Etc. The further north or south of the equator we are, we will tend to see the speed of this transition faster and it will occur earlier in the year. However, do many riders really take note of this environmental change or even plan for what will become.
At this time of year, there are many sources of information for ‘Winter Riding Tips’, from online and printed media which many riders find informative and beneficial, however, are they an effective way to avoid having a motorcycle accident. The following is a general guide for winter riding which is based upon not only the riding skills and equipment but also a riding mentality.
Is your motorcycle – winter roadworthy? Check brakes, tyres (condition & pressure), lights, battery, etc.
Is the motorcycle your only form of transport? Sometimes choosing to take the car or bus is the better option as road surfaces can get covered with ice and or snow, which is not a great combination.
Are you prepared to ride in the cold, wet & dark? This relates to many riders who will tend not to ride in the winter months and only venture back out in the spring. (Hibernation) Many riders will continue to ride throughout the winter by choice or out of necessity. Much of riding in these conditions is concerned with confidence, awareness and mental approach. A winter rider should be much more conservative in their riding style, ride at a reduced speed, avoid heavy & late braking, and be much more aware of the weather conditions and forecasts and allow extra vehicle space and extra journey time.
Many of the motorcycle accidents that we have dealt with and continue to occur are predominantly associated with misreading the weather & road conditions, riding at excessive speed for the conditions and heavy or snatch braking especially on painted road surfaces which can be extremely slippery in the wet.
Are you wearing clothing that will keep you warm, dry & comfortable? One noticeable difference between year round riders and seasonal riders is the amount of equipment they have. Riding in winter months can be uncomfortable, especially so on longer journeys. The more uncomfortable the rider, the less attention is spent on riding, conditions, traffic density and the road ahead. Investing in waterproof clothing & boots, thermal clothing, gloves, thermal under garments and neck warmers will be a good step to aiding rider comfort. With all the extra layers, the rider’s physical size will increase & bulk out which may lead to a reduce range of movement. Be sure that whatever winter clothing you choose, that it does not restrict any movement and it does not interfere with your ability to ride in a normal manner. There is a whole range of winter suitable clothing available in motorcycle accessory stores which does not have to be too expensive for it to be effective.
Helmets & Steaming Visors! This used to be the curse of the winter rider…and still is for some, when colder temperatures would lead to the visor, glasses or googles steaming up, or rain and small water droplets would tend to stick to the visor etc, which would reduce the rider’s ability to see. Modern helmets have visors that have been treated with an anti fog treatment that prevents this to some degree. There are also visor inserts and anti fog spray treatment which can also be bought and applied, also rain repellent to disperse water and it is also recommended that visors are changed every year or when they have been scratched. Steam, rain and scratches on the visor tend to cause reduce visibility and light will tend to flare which compounds the problem. Steam and water droplets on the visor, especially in light rain, drizzle or fog also cause a myopia or empty field myopia in which the rider may suffer from short sightedness and the eyes focus on the visor surface and not out on the road beyond.
Easy Rider! Easy! A winter rider should not only ride more cautiously and slowly, given the conditions, but should allow the extra time & space between vehicles. This not only allows extra reaction time for the rider and compensates for reduced braking and steering control, but it also compensates for other road users that may also have reduced capabilities and driving performance. By allowing extra time & space the rider is enabling the other road users the improved ability to notice the rider and avoid getting too close. If riders are aware of this, it may provide the extra buffer needed, especially in the dark where some riders may wish to wear reflective clothing which may assist improved visibility.
Is riding slowly and wrapping up warm enough? Keeping warm and dry is key to maintaining attention and awareness on the road. If a rider is so uncomfortable or cold or cold & wet that they are distracted from the road ahead, then the probability of having an accident increases enormously. Being cold and wet also have physiological affects which will reduce rider performance. In many ways the body will start to ‘shut down’ as it tries to preserve energy, thus leading to reduced brain function and mobility. This is of course a severe scenario, however it will be a gradual process and the reduced performance may not even be noticed by the rider.
But keeping warm & dry and riding slowly does not necessarily mean that there is a reduced probability of having an accident. It is the awareness of hazards, those present, those in the future, and those in the distant future that will enable the rider to avoid the situations. By factoring weather forecasts, journey type, road type, traffic density, time of day etc., will provide the rider with the lowest probability of having an accident.
E.g. If on a given day, it has been raining and the temperature is forecast to drop to zero deg then there is a very real risk of icing on the roads the next morning. If the roads have been treated with salt/grit de-icer and there has been high traffic flow on a busy road, then there is less risk of ice remaining. If the road has been left untreated and there has been a low traffic flow, then there is a very real risk of icing.
Never is hazard perception at its most demanding than in the winter months and it is the rider that acknowledges this and acts accordingly that will fair the best.
Is hibernation a good thing? If a rider chooses not to ride their motorcycle in the winter months, then that is their choice and I for one will not condemn them for it, also there is the certainty that they will not be involved in a motorcycle accident. However, one accident statistic that is repeated every year without fail is that in which involves riders with little or no recent riding experience. As soon as spring approaches, many riders will eagerly await the first dry road day and that is when there is a sudden spike in accidents.
Riding in winter, is as much about riding technique and approach as it is about confidence. The only way to maintain proficiency levels is to practice on a regular basis and that means riding on a regular basis. Riding in winter does not necessarily mean that the roads will be wet or icy, there might be glorious sunny cold days with dry roads to take advantage of, and we would certainly recommend that seasonal riders practice in most safe conditions throughout the whole year. However, if riding in the winter is not an option, then be sure to ease slowly into spring riding taking extra precautions and practice hazard perception often as possible.
Do I want to ride? Do I need to ride? Am I ready to ride? This is really about the rider’s understanding of whether they are physically & mentally capable and prepared to ride and is the journey necessary. For some it is necessary as it is the only form of transport, for others, it is a choice depending on other transport options and whether it is a social ride or necessary ride e.g. ride to work. Many winter riders should consider all the variables and look far ahead as possible and delay a final decision. This way the rider is able to get the best information available and consider the options before making a go or no go decision. A rider can start to gather information such as weather forecasts or road closures, etc. in advance of a ride. This will start to mentally prepare the rider to deal with the conditions or develop early contingencies, but it does not have to be so formal. An assessment the night before of the weather forecast and the type of journey required and always have a mental limit set beyond which would be a no go decision.
What riding techniques should I adopt? Riding in the winter requires a certain set of skills that unless utilised will lead to a highly probable accident occurring.
Do not brake heavily or snatch brake especially on wet surfaces and painted surfaces!
Apply brake pressure progressively utilising the rear brake also. Avoid using only the front brake!
Avoid heavy braking whilst changing direction or on a bend!
Avoid aggressive acceleration!
Look out for debris on the road and potholes and cracks!
Avoid changing directions or taking unnecessary avoiding actions with excessive speed!
Ride at a reduced speed on all road types in all winter conditions!
Allow even more space between vehicles than would be normal at other times of year!
Look & think ahead! Practice hazard perception! What could happen next?
Allow room for the reduced performances of other road users, give them the best chance to see & avoid you!
Much of riding in the winter is exactly the same as at other times of the years, however, with an extra buffer built in. A rider’s approach to riding and planning for the conditions is the key to successful and enjoyable winter riding.
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