5 Road Hazards That You Must Watch Out For

Unseen dangers on the road are a reality of life, and if you are a two-wheeler rider, chances are that you may have found yourself face to face with sudden situations with very little time to react! The best way to deal with sudden threats is to anticipate them and have a contingency plan for at least the common ones. Never leave your house without riding safety gear such as motorcycle helmets and riding gloves, and be prepared for sudden hazards. Here are five of the most common ones that you must watch out for.

1. People suddenly turning in front of you

A common problem with Indian drivers is that they change lanes without checking their rear-view mirrors first, and in doing that they swerve right in front of you making it difficult for you to avoid them. As a result, you may have to panic-brake which is never a good thing. To avoid that from happening always make sure to keep some space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.

2. Dust and debris flying into your eyes

When you ride a two-wheeler behind a truck or a large four-wheeler, you must have had small stone chips, dust and debris flying into your face. This can be very dangerous especially when there is nothing to protect your eyes against the flying debris. Make sure you have adequate protection against such threats. A good quality safety helmet protects your head as well as your eyes from such flying debris.

3. Oversized vehicles

Whether you are riding on the highways or on rural roads, oversized and overloaded vehicles is a common sight. These slow-moving vehicles take up both lanes and makes it a challenge for oncoming traffic to pass-through and faster traffic behind it from overtaking simply because you cannot see what is ahead. If you face such a situation, be sure to have a good look at the road in-front of the vehicle before overtaking it. Also, be sure to give such vehicles a wide berth in case they capsize and topple over.

4. Vehicles tailgating you

Tailgating is a major problem on Indian roads. Neither should you tailgate anyone, nor is it safe if anyone is tailgating you. Always keep a distance of at least 10 meters between you and the vehicle in front of you and if there is a four-wheeler behind you make sure to create some distance in between. You can also let the vehicle pass you by or speed away creating the space in between.

5. Animals and elderly people crossing roads

Stray animals running on the roads present a unique threat to motorcyclists and other two-wheeler riders. When they suddenly come in front of you, there is very little left to do other than panic braking. Hitting an animal can completely disbalance a four-wheeler, but in case of a two-wheeler the impact can be fatal! Stray animals are more difficult to identify in the dark. Therefore, you need to invest in auxiliary lights and ride more carefully in the darkness.

Staying safe on the roads is all about staying alert and being smart. Also, never leave your home with a helmet and other riding safety gears.