Many hardcore motorcycle riders will tell you that there is no weather that they won’t ride in and while they probably deep down inside mean it, there are certain weather conditions that are not conducive to riding safely. While you can get into a Connecticut motorcycle accident in any weather condition, even a beautifully sunny day, there are some weather conditions that are less favorable to safety than others.
It can be hard to tell when it is safe and when it is not safe to ride your motorcycle in certain weather conditions. In this part of the country, weather conditions can be quite unpredictable and a sunny day can turn overcast and rainy quite quickly. It can be difficult for riders to determine when they should shut down their motorcycle for the season because there are years where the riding conditions remain good all the way through January and February. There are other years where the riding conditions deteriorate by Halloween. Therefore, it does not make sense to determine whether you’ll continue riding based on the calendar.
If you’re trying to figure out when it is time to stop riding your motorcycle to remain safe, you should focus more on the weather situations then on the time of the year. Here in Southern New England, the time of the year could be irrelevant if the weather conditions don’t match the “expectations” of the calendar. If you want to keep yourself safe when riding your motorcycle you will want to pay extra special care to the weather conditions right as you’re deciding whether you should get on your bike for a ride or not. If the conditions aren’t good, you should skip the ride and opt for something a little safer.
Here’s how to tell if the weather conditions are ok or not to hope on your motorcycle and ride.
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Visibility. How far you can see in front of you while you’re riding is a key indicator of whether you’ll be able to ride safely or not. Visibility can change at a moment's notice so if there is any question about whether you will have good visibility on your ride or not, you should skip your ride for that day.
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Precipitation. Rain, ice and snow can cause serious issues for a motorcycle and you should strongly consider these conditions when thinking about whether or not you go for a ride on a particular day. Given that a motorcycle only has two tires to grip the road with, it can be much more susceptible to slippery conditions which could lead to dangerous situations. If there is any precipitation in the air, you should strongly consider not riding your motorcycle that day.
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Wind. Wind may not be a weather condition that is often accounted for when considering whether or not to go out for a ride, but high winds can impact your ability to ride safely. Wind speeds do not have to reach hurricane level speeds in order to be dangerous and you should consider even a light wind to be a concern when you’re hitting the open road on your motorcycle.
Bad weather conditions can really put a damper on your ability to ride your motorcycle. When you’re considering whether or not you should head out, you should keep in mind that certain weather conditions are more conducive to riding than others, but these conditions change frequently, especially as the weather begins to get colder in the fall and winter months. In order to keep yourself safe and avoid a Connecticut motorcycle accident you will want to keep a close eye on how the weather is looking so you can make the smart choice and skip your ride if there is any question about your safety.
Riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating and fun, but it can also be dangerous so it is important that you take all conditions into account before you head out for a ride. If you are riding and you get into an accident you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience with situations like the one you may be in. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you on protecting your long-term interests.
