Riding Your Motorcycle In The Winter? Here’s How To Stay Safe

February 2, 2021
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Many riders of motorcycles think of the winter months as a time to skip the open road and hunker down until warmer weather arrives.  The true die hards though, strap on their helmets and hit the open road.  This is a great way to get outside and enjoy the refreshing cold air on your face and explore the beauty all around us during this time.  However, it can also become a chance to get into a New Haven motorcycle accident if you’re not following some simple safety tips.

We’ve compiled a list of a couple of things you can do to make sure you’re riding your motorcycle safely, even in the winter months.

  1. Layer your gear.  The cold weather can be brutal on your body and not wearing the appropriate gear can leave you cold and distracted from the road.
  2. Wear a helmet.  While there isn’t a helmet law in Connecticut it becomes even more important to wear one with the higher risk of riding your motorcycle in the winter months.
  3. Add a large windscreen to your bike.  Blocking the elements while riding in the winter can be essential to safe driving.
  4. Properly inflate your tires.  Just like in your car you will want to check your tire pressure regularly and ensure that your tires are inflated to the proper level.
  5. Avoid salt, ice and potholes.  All three of these elements by themselves could be damaging to your ride, but put them together in the winter months and they present a devastating impact on your ride.
  6. Add reflective strips to your clothes and your bike.  Being seen in the winter months is even more challenging as drivers are battling darker skies, wet roads, and more difficult conditions.  Reflective gear will help you be seen more easily.

If you’re an experienced rider, riding your motorcycle in the winter can be a particularly enjoyable way to get out of the house and see the world.  If you’ve had less experience riding, you might want to stick to the spring and summer months for your rides until you’ve built up your knowledge-base on how to avoid a New Haven motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved one were injured in an accident and you believe you need an experienced attorney to review your case, contact our office immediately and one of our attorneys will reach out.