10 Unavoidable Tips for Riding Safely in Heavy Traffic

From being easily hit by 4 wheelers, trucks & other 4-wheelers to slipping on wet tarmac & losing balance, the probability of getting into an accident causing serious injuries whilst driving a two-wheeler is seriously high.

This is where motorcycle insurance plays a significant role for all 2-wheeler owners since riding on the road, especially in heavy traffic, makes one extremely vulnerable to an accident. You can easily buy motorcycle insurance online from some of the insurers in India.

While motorcycle insurance is certainly a compulsory post-incident option, one should always be aware while riding on the road to mitigate the possibility of accidents. Following is our list of the 10 most important things you should keep in mind while riding, especially in heavy traffic.

1. Avoid Distractions at All Cost

As a bike rider, you don’t have the luxury to entertain even the smallest of distractions while riding on the road. Even swaying away from seeing straight for even a fraction of a second can prove to be fatal for you.

Also, during heavy traffic, bikers tend to get impatient because of the irregular flow of cars and end up making hasty decisions like lane switching. The last thing you need at such a time is a distraction; this prevents you from paying attention to avoidable threats. Distractions can be limited by:

• Turning off your mobile phone or putting it on silent
• No music in your earphones
• Not talking to anyone while riding.

2. Planning your Route Ahead

Proper planning can save you from heavy traffic hassles; all you need to do is to ensure a few factors before leaving

• Be aware of the weather conditions
• Plan for alternate routes to avoid traffic prone areas
• Ongoing road constructions will give you a heads up that heavy traffic is waiting for you forward
• Look for festivities or events beforehand, try avoiding commute from there

3. Use Lower Gears

In heavy traffic, it’s better to stick to a lower gear, controlling a bike on a higher gear can get cumbersome for you.

Lower gears also brake quickly due to naturally occurring "engine braking."

4. Keep a Distance with Vehicles Nearby

Gauging the distance between you and the vehicles around you helps you avoid accidents in heavy traffic.

You can do this by paying attention to everything around you on the road, sensing the mindset of your fellow drivers, and maintaining a distance.

Adjust your speed accordingly, more time between you and the car in front will mean more reaction time in case of sudden braking or an emergency.

5. Monitor your Speed

Over speeding is the reason behind 50 percent of road accidents, so be prepared to hold your horses where needed.

However, heavy traffic will naturally slow you down. You might feel the need to rush; this is the time when you need to keep your calm. Always remember that prevention is better than solution, so proceed with caution. Obstacles can come uniform, keep your eyes and ears wide open.  

6. Remain Calm in Case Cars Tailgate

It is generally a good practice to have a cushion distance between your bike and vehicles in front. This is to ensure accidents in case of sudden brakes and rollbacks on shifting gear. While shifting to first gear with little space behind you, give your bike a little more gas and slowly let out the clutch.

This helps avoid rollbacks in case of tailgating. You can avoid tailgating by gently dropping your speed down; this will increase the gap in front and will force the vehicle behind to slow down too.

7. Most Important: Don’t Switch Lanes/Overtake Without Using Indicators

Lane switching without the use of indicators has become a trend nowadays, all thanks to impatient & irresponsible riding.

Riders are in a hurry to reach their destination and resort to rapid switching of lanes without realizing the threat they bring upon themselves and their fellow passengers.

Avoid such stunts, keep time on your hand, and do not forget to give an indicator while changing lanes or taking a turn, it helps other cars gauge your actions.

8. Use Protective Gear & Save Yourself from Fatal Accidents

A big mistake a lot of people make is that they spend a lot of money on buying their favourite bike, but do not invest in protective gear.

Protective gear is a bike rider’s best friend on the road. It will not only save you from injuries but can also protect you from a fatal situation during an accident. Following is a must-have list of protective gear you should definitely invest inif you are a daily rider:

• Sturdy helmet (An extra one, in case you have a pillion rider)
• Riding Jacket
• Boots
• Gloves

9. Maintain your bike

Owning a bike requires regular trips to the service station which is extremely crucial. Make sure your beloved vehicle is regularly serviced; always keep a check on the tyre condition, suspension, air pressure, front and rear brakes, horn as well as front and tail lights. 

If a bike is timely serviced & well maintained, it not only saves you from the risks of accidents but also increases the fuel efficiency of your bike.

10. Follow traffic rules sincerely

As a rider on the road, you need to make sure that you follow all the traffic rules diligently.

A lot of accidents occur just because people were irresponsible and did not care about the traffic rules. Alongside following traffic rules, make sure that you are also considerate of the pedestrians walking on the road.

To Conclude

Road accidents, injuries & vulnerability to weather have always been the most infamous downsides of owning & riding a bike.

Two-wheeler riders are vulnerable in all road conditions & traffic situations. You should ride responsibly as your safety as well as the safety of other elements on the road is also in your hands. Irresponsible behavior on the road can land a person’s life in danger at any time.

Before you begin your riding journey, make sure that you have done a sanity check of your bike, have all the necessary gear with you including motorcycle insurance, which can’t be avoided at all costs.

You can speak to our insurance experts to know more about 2 wheeler insurance, compare from the online motorcycle insurance policies & buy the one that suits you.