{"id":6277,"date":"2022-08-02T10:43:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T17:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/?p=6277"},"modified":"2022-12-21T11:10:18","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T11:10:18","slug":"motorcycle-safety-6-things-a-california-motorcyclist-should-never-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/motorcycle-safety-6-things-a-california-motorcyclist-should-never-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorcycle Safety: 6 Things a California Motorcyclist Should Never Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

California\u2019s seemingly endless summers make the Golden State an ideal place for owning and riding a motorcycle. If you avoid these six bad habits or safety risks and have the best California motorcycle insurance<\/a>, you can ride in comfort. Follow these 6 motorcycle safety tips to stay safe on the open road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Never Ride Your Motorcycle Under the Influence <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The driving under the influence (DUI) laws in the state of California are almost identical for motorcyclists and the drivers of other vehicles. In other words, if you are stopped, it\u2019s going to get costly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll be fined, almost certainly face license suspension, and maybe go to jail. You\u2019ll have to hire a lawyer and get an SR-22 form<\/a> as proof that you have liability coverage once your riding privileges are finally restored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A DUI doesn\u2019t just affect your motorcycle operation either. You\u2019ll face a license suspension for all the motor vehicles you currently drive. That might mean all your cars and your boat, ATV, or other vehicles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the reason the penalties are so high for Californian motorcyclists riding under the influence is that it\u2019s even more dangerous than if you drove in that condition in a car. If your reflexes are slowed, or your inhibitions are gone due to alcohol or drugs, you\u2019re more likely to get into an accident\u2060\u2014and less likely to avoid injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most other forms of transportation have seat belts and airbags and are more fully enclosed. When riding a motorcycle, you have no similar protection. You\u2019re out in the open and at a high risk to be seriously injured\u2026 or worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don’t Get Distracted While Riding Your Motorcycle in California <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Motorcycle riding is a great way to see the deserts, mountains, beaches, and busy cities of California. There are plenty of great riding destinations here<\/a>. That could be a problem if those breathtaking views distract you from the job at hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accidents that might cause minor injuries to auto drivers or passengers can kill motorcyclists. That\u2019s why you need your full attention on the road at all times. You have to not only see the brake lights of the vehicle ahead of you, but also keep an eye on the vehicles ahead of those vehicles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a rider sharing a seat behind you, ignore them until you can come to a full stop. And keep your stereo volume low enough that you can still hear the sounds around you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Be Prepared! Don’t Underdress or Overdress <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California is a state of weather extremes. You might ride through sweltering deserts, snowy mountains, or brittle autumnal pine cone forests. Know the weather conditions you\u2019ll be up against, and dress appropriately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being too warm or finger-numbing cold is yet another form of distraction. If you\u2019re not comfortable, your mind isn\u2019t fully focused on the critical task of operating your motorcycle safely. That could be a fatal mistake. <\/p>\n\n\n

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4. Never Neglect to Wear a Helmet While Riding in California <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Department of Transportation (DOT)-compliant helmets are mandatory for California motorcyclists. Your passenger must wear a DOT-compliant safety helmet too. And for good reason. We each only have one brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy the best helmet you can afford<\/a> \u2013 this is no time to bargain hunt. Make sure it fits correctly. You don\u2019t want your helmet slipping off when you need it the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Avoid Showing Off While Riding Your Bike <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, your bike is cool. It\u2019s loud, fast, and looks awesome on a kickstand. Your riding gear is pretty appealing, too. Nevertheless, stay safe and avoid the understandable temptation to show off your bike and your riding skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Observe speed limits, maintain safe distances behind other vehicles, and avoid making sudden turns or lane changes. Get to where you\u2019re going safely, and then show off your parked bike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Never Ride with Inadequate Motorcycle Insurance in California <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California motorcycle insurance is mandatory. Just like auto insurance coverage<\/a>, you\u2019ll need a minimum of $15,000\/$30,000 bodily injury\/death liability insurance per person\/two or more people and $5,000 in property damage liability.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key advantage of this minimal form of coverage is the fact that it\u2019s cheaper than a full coverage policy. The low cost does come with its limitations, however. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liability will cover damage to property or injuries to others if you\u2019re at fault for an accident, but it won\u2019t cover damage to your own bike or injuries that you incur. Motorcycles that can cost thousands of dollars might be beyond repair in an accident\u2014or at a cost so high you can\u2019t afford it. That\u2019s why you should discuss the benefits of full coverage protection with your insurer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An independent motorcycle insurance agent can present you with a range of rate quotes<\/a> from various carriers so you can choose the most ideal coverage for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your insurer might also find that it\u2019s possible to \u201cbundle\u201d your coverage by selecting California motorcycle insurance from the same carrier that handles your homeowners insurance<\/a>, your car insurance, or other forms of coverage. By bundling additional policies from the same carrier, you can often earn rate discounts that will make your California motorcycle insurance much more affordable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask your agent for details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Affordable Motorcycle Insurance in California Today <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cost-U-Less has been helping California drivers get inexpensive insurance since 1989. Let us show you multiple options for affordable motorcycle insurance. Call us at (800) 390-4071<\/a>, or get a fast and free quote for motorcycle insurance online<\/a>. We also invite you to find a Cost-U-Less location near you<\/a> to meet in person with an independent insurance agent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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California\u2019s seemingly endless summers make the Golden State an ideal place for owning and riding a motorcycle. If you avoid these six bad habits or safety risks and have the best California motorcycle insurance, you can ride in comfort. Follow these 6 motorcycle safety tips to stay safe on the open road.  1. Never Ride […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[717],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6277"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6277"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6514,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6277\/revisions\/6514"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.costulessdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}