Riding a motorbike in the rainy season is not an easy thing. Most adventure enthusiasts love to go for a ride out in the rain, while most people tend to avoid stepping out to avoid the rain. However, riding out in the rain can be risky as roads are slippery and there are high chances of accidents.
Graana.com, Pakistan’s smartest property portal, brings you a few tips that can help you stay safe when riding a motorbike in the rainy season.
Essential Safety Tips to Ride a Motorbike in the Rain
During monsoons, it is difficult to avoid the rain as it keeps drizzling on most days. It is important for everyone to be aware of the weather conditions before leaving their house.
If the weather forecast predicts rain, then you need to prioritise safety measures. The following safety tips might help you save yourself during the rain:
- Follow a maintenance checklist for your motorbike
- Use essential rain gear
- Make sure the bike tyres are sturdy
- Keep a safe distance from other vehicles
- Take measures for low visibility
- Avoid overspeeding on wet roads
- Watch out for slippery surfaces
- Keep a small emergency kit
- Keep a list of emergency contact numbers
Let’s discuss all the tips in detail.
Follow a Maintenance Checklist for Your Motorbike
Your motorbike is your partner during your ride out in the rainy season. It can either keep you safe from minor accidents or lead you to a bad situation if not maintained properly. Hence, keeping your motorbike in good shape should be your priority. Before the start of the first rainy spell, you should get all the maintenance done.
The following is a checklist that can help you with your motorbike’s maintenance:
- Check your motorbike’s tyres
- Inspect the brakes
- Look for oil leakage
- Lube the chain
- Check the lights
- Check brake and clutch controls
Use Essential Rain Gear
Your attire during the rainy season should be completely different. Once you are out in the rain, you can get wet and catch a cold. Thus, you must invest in rainy season gear.
The following checklist is recommended to ride out in the rain:
- Raincoat
- A pair of leather gloves
- Zipper waterproof jacket
- Waterproof riding pants
- Water-resistant shoes
- Waterproof backpack for your essentials
- Gaiters
These essentials will help you in keeping yourself dry during the rain and you will be able to commute to your destination without any problem.
Make Sure the Bike Tyres Are Sturdy
Apart from following a checklist for your motorbike’s maintenance, you should check the tyres every time you leave for a journey during the rain. Worn-out tyres can cause several problems during the rain such as:
- Increased risk of hydroplaning
- Difficult handling in rainwater
- Loss of air pressure
- Sudden blowout
- Increase in stopping distance
Therefore, to avoid these problems, it is essential to have sturdy tyres. Bald or smooth tyres are always dangerous to buy. On the other hand, tyres with treads are suitable for all weather conditions. They help in smooth maintenance of traction that helps in applying brakes firmly and quickly, especially at corners.
Keep a Safe Distance From Other Vehicles
During the rainy season, roads are slippery and it can be difficult to apply the brakes. Tyres do not have enough traction to stop at the very moment brakes are applied.
Thus, you should increase the braking distance and ride slowly. It will give you enough time to stop the bike before it hits any other vehicle.
Take Measures for Low Visibility
Low visibility is a major problem while riding in the rain. It can also fog up the helmet visor, which blurs vision and can increase the risk of a fatal accident. Therefore, bikers must be prepared and take appropriate measures.
Anti-fog goggles and helmet visors can provide extra protection in such cases. They prevent the water from hitting the face or windshield. Moreover, anti-fog solutions can keep your goggles or helmet visors from steaming up.
Avoid Overspeeding on Wet Roads in the Rainy Season
Speeding is one of the major causes of vehicle accidents during the rainy season. It is due to hydroplaning: a thin layer of water forms between the tyres and the road, which causes the tyres to skid, making it difficult for the rider to control the bike.
Hydroplaning occurs in cases where the motorbike is overspeeding. It does not provide enough time for the tyres to form a grip on the road. So, riding slowly can help you stay safe.
Watch Out for Slippery Surfaces
Slippery surfaces pose dangers while riding out in the rain, and many fatal accidents occur due to them. So, every rider must be cautious of:
- Wet pavements (as oil on the road washes to the sides during rain and makes the road slippery)
- Sand, gravel, and leaves on hard surfaces
- Mud, ice, snow
- Worn, polished pavements
To avoid any accident on such surfaces:
- Drive slowly
- Avoid sudden moves
- Use both brakes
- Stay in your lane on the road
Keep a Small Emergency Kit | Stay Safe in the Rainy Season
Despite all preparations and necessary measures, you can still meet an unexpected accident. In such cases, you need to have an emergency kit. Every motorbike has a small storage space where you can place a small emergency kit.
Your emergency kit should have:
- Two pairs of Nitrile Gloves
- Antimicrobial hand sanitiser
- Trauma shears
- First aid guide book
- A small bottle of eyewash solution
- A collapsible rescue breathing mask
- Regular band-aids
- Four butterfly bandages
- Four sealed, sterile gauze pads
- Paper towels
- Burn and/or sting relief gel
- Instant cold packs
- Three or more triangle bandages
- Two emergency blankets (if possible)
If you cannot carry all these things in your emergency kit, you should at least have the most essential items.
Keep a List of Emergency Contact Numbers
In case of an emergency, it is essential to have a list of all important contact numbers on the go. Delay in help can cause a serious emergency or death in some unfortunate cases.
Keeping a list of emergency contact numbers is not only necessary for personal protection but also to help others in any unfortunate situation.
The following is a table of all the emergency helplines that you can contact in an unfortunate situation:
These measures will help you to keep yourself safe while riding your bikes in the rainy season. Get to know essential tips for rainy season.
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