In choosing to use a motorcycle as your form of transportation, you are running the risk of involving yourself in a serious accident. In comparison to normal motor vehicles, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to get into collisions leading to death. Since motorcycles are so much smaller than passenger vehicles, they offer limited protection during an accident.

In March of 2013, an Air Force man died in an Arizona collision when he crashed his motorcycle into the back of the pick-up truck stopped in front of him. The motorcyclist was riding too closely to the truck, making him unable to brake or swerve out of the way in time. Not only was the man following the truck too closely, he also was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. Although the man did not instantly die, he passed away later that evening.

When it comes to preventing motorcycle accidents, certain precautions must be taken. The most obvious and essential form of prevention is the use of helmets. Individuals who do not wear helmets while riding a motorcycle are 40% more likely to experience head trauma resulting in death than those who do wear helmets. Beyond wearing helmets, another important way to decrease the chance of a motorcycle accident is to never drink and ride. After the consumption of alcohol, one's judgment and cognitive abilities have been greatly decreased.

While riding a motorcycle, some precautions to consider in order to reduce the risk of injury are:

• Wear a helmet
• Do not drink and ride
• Wear thick, bright-colored clothing
• Do not follow too closely to other vehicles
• Do not weave in and out of traffic
• Follow the speed limit
• Travel at slower speeds when riding over loose ground or wet surfaces

Even with taking these precautions, riding a motorcycle is a dangerous task and accidents do happen.