The way to ensure trouble-free riding – whether novice or experienced – is to learn to operate your scooter more skillfully and safely. Your enjoyment and your safety depend on mastering not only the skill of riding a scooter, but also on the mental strategies related to sharing the road.
You will learn:
- What to Wear When You Ride: Dress in protective gear including helmets, jackets, pants, gloves, boots, rain gear, and high-visibility clothing for safety and comfort while riding your scooter.
- Your Legal Responsibilities: Understand and fulfill your legal obligations like obtaining the necessary licensing, insurance, and registration for scooter riding.
- Know Your Scooter: Familiarize yourself with your scooter’s controls, practice braking in a straight line and turning, and conduct pre-ride checks and regular maintenance for safe riding.
- Highway, Byway, Street, and Alley: Use the SEE (Search, Evaluate, Execute) System to increase your visibility to others and enhance your ability to see other road users, especially at intersections, while passing other vehicles, dealing with tailgaters, and riding at night.
- Handling Special Situations: Learn emergency braking, how to brake while leaned into a curve, cope with skids, ride across poor road surfaces, and navigate steel bridge gratings, rain grooves, railroad crossings, rain, wind, and encounters with animals.
- Equipment Failures: Be prepared for equipment failures like blowouts and stuck throttles. Know the steps to take to ensure safety and control during these situations.
- Group Riding and Passengers: Understand the dynamics of group riding and the considerations necessary when carrying a passenger, such as adjusting the suspension and tire pressure.
- Loading the Scooter: Ensure proper loading of the scooter for balanced and safe riding.
- Drinking, Drugs, and Riding: Be aware of the risks and legal consequences of riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs, emphasizing the importance of sober riding for safety.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RIDING A SCOOTER?
There are many benefits to riding a scooter instead of driving a car. Scooters are cheaper to operate and maintain, and they take up less space on the road. Scooters are also more environmentally friendly than cars, as they emit less pollution. In addition, scooters can be more fun to ride than cars, and they offer a great way to get around town.
Motor Scooter and Moped Safety Tips
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Wear bright or reflective clothing.
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Operators and passengers must wear U.S. Department of Transportation certified helmets and eye protective devises unless the vehicle has a windshield.
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Don't ride in another motorist's blind spot.
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Your vehicle may not be operated at a speed that exceeds 30 miles per hour. Mopeds and motor sooters are prohibited from travelling on expressways, access highways or roads with posted speed limits of 50 miles per hour or more. Obey the speed limits and never travel faster than your skill level or than the conditions allow.
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Use your turn signals along with hand signals when making turns or changing lanes.
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Use extra caution at intersections, parking lot entrances and exits, and driveways.
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Keep both hands on the handlebars and both feet on the floorboards while riding.
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Never leave your moped or motor scooter unattended with the engine running.
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Avoid hitting road hazards, such as sharp bumps and holes in the road surface, to avoid loss of control or damage to your moped.
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Be especially conscious of traffic from behind due to the likely speed difference between other traffic and your moped.
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Know where your blind spots are and check them frequently because mirrors only allow a partial view behind you.
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Do not carry a passenger, unless the vehicle is designed to carry two people.
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Make sure that all required safety equipment (headlights, brake lights, brakes, mirrors, etc.) are in proper working condition.
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Maintain a good distance between you and the cars around you.
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Most important of all: Do not drink and drive.