RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Scooter Safety Results:
Motor Scooter & Moped Safety
By:
Published: November 5, 2006
For many, mopeds offer an ideal mode of transportation: they are compact, efficient and easily maneuvered. These traits making mopeds and scooters so appealing also can make them unsafe. However, a few logical steps and considerations can easily ensure scooter safety.
The clothing a moped operator chooses to wear can greatly affect overall riding safety. Since the exhaust system becomes intensely hot during operation and does not cool off for some time afterward, one should take care not to come into direct contact with exhaust parts. Riders should wear long pants to protect their legs.
Loose-fitting or oversized clothing also can pose a danger to scooter safety, since the garment could potentially catch on the control levers, footrests or wheels. Smart riders also wear bright clothing to help improve their visibility to other drivers, especially at night.
In a discussion of protective clothing, perhaps the most important element often gets disregarded by irresponsible riders: the safety helmet. Riders should always wear a helmet. Combining a helmet with eye protection – such as goggles – makes for even safer riding.
Once a rider addresses apparel issues, the next logical concern involves road safety. Many safety measures simply require common sense. For one, riders should keep both hands on the handlebars and both feet securely on the floorboards at all times when operating a scooter. Scooters also can become vulnerable to uneven road surfaces. For this reason, one should avoid hitting road hazards, such as sharp bumps and holes in the road surface, as they can cause a rider to lose control of the vehicle.
Weather conditions also affect scooter safety. For example, riders should be aware that wet or slick roads can noticeably affect a scooter's ability to brake quickly.
Again, a scooter's small size can make it difficult to detect by other motorists. For this reason, the scooter rider has the responsibility of making his or her presence known. When changing lanes, a rider should signal well in advance. Gesturing with hand signals can help emphasize a rider's intentions.
Scooter riders should check rearview mirrors frequently—as in every few seconds—to gauge the position of vehicles coming from behind. Since many accidents involving a scooter or moped result from speeding, riders should always obey speed restrictions.
As with all vehicles, one should turn the engine off and avoid smoking when refueling a scooter. Also, many people fail to realize the rear wheel will spin when it is not in contact with the ground. If this is the case, riders should avoid contact with this wheel to prevent severe personal injury.
A few simple measures can make scooter riding safer and more enjoyable, not just for scooter users themselves, but for everyone on the road.
Sources:
MMSC—Safety Tips. 2005. Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center. 11 Oct 2006 .
Scooter/Moped Riding Safety Tips. 2006. GS MotorWorks. 11 Oct 2006 http://www.gsmotorworks.com/riding_safety_tips/c8/ Riding_Life.html.
The clothing a moped operator chooses to wear can greatly affect overall riding safety. Since the exhaust system becomes intensely hot during operation and does not cool off for some time afterward, one should take care not to come into direct contact with exhaust parts. Riders should wear long pants to protect their legs.
Loose-fitting or oversized clothing also can pose a danger to scooter safety, since the garment could potentially catch on the control levers, footrests or wheels. Smart riders also wear bright clothing to help improve their visibility to other drivers, especially at night.
In a discussion of protective clothing, perhaps the most important element often gets disregarded by irresponsible riders: the safety helmet. Riders should always wear a helmet. Combining a helmet with eye protection – such as goggles – makes for even safer riding.
Once a rider addresses apparel issues, the next logical concern involves road safety. Many safety measures simply require common sense. For one, riders should keep both hands on the handlebars and both feet securely on the floorboards at all times when operating a scooter. Scooters also can become vulnerable to uneven road surfaces. For this reason, one should avoid hitting road hazards, such as sharp bumps and holes in the road surface, as they can cause a rider to lose control of the vehicle.
Weather conditions also affect scooter safety. For example, riders should be aware that wet or slick roads can noticeably affect a scooter's ability to brake quickly.
Again, a scooter's small size can make it difficult to detect by other motorists. For this reason, the scooter rider has the responsibility of making his or her presence known. When changing lanes, a rider should signal well in advance. Gesturing with hand signals can help emphasize a rider's intentions.
Scooter riders should check rearview mirrors frequently—as in every few seconds—to gauge the position of vehicles coming from behind. Since many accidents involving a scooter or moped result from speeding, riders should always obey speed restrictions.
As with all vehicles, one should turn the engine off and avoid smoking when refueling a scooter. Also, many people fail to realize the rear wheel will spin when it is not in contact with the ground. If this is the case, riders should avoid contact with this wheel to prevent severe personal injury.
A few simple measures can make scooter riding safer and more enjoyable, not just for scooter users themselves, but for everyone on the road.
Sources:
MMSC—Safety Tips. 2005. Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center. 11 Oct 2006 .
Scooter/Moped Riding Safety Tips. 2006. GS MotorWorks. 11 Oct 2006 http://www.gsmotorworks.com/riding_safety_tips/c8/ Riding_Life.html.
Featured Scooter Safety Products:
