Scooters and Mopeds: Smaller Bikes, But Big Safety Issues

The offices of the Parian Law Firm are located in Carrollton, Georgia. Carrollton is the proud home of the University of West Georgia (Go Wolves!). Like students on and around campuses across the country, many UWG students use scooters and mopeds as a cheaper and more convenient way to get where they need to go. A 50-cc moped can get up to 125 miles-per-gallon and Georgia doesn’t require either registration or insurance to ride one.

While scooters can be fun and efficient, they also pose significant risks for riders because of their smaller size and the fact that many scooter riders don’t take some simple safety precautions.

Whether you’re a student or not, if you ride a scooter or moped, these tips can help keep you safe on the road and reduce the chances of being injured in an accident:

• Be Seen. Scooter and mopeds are small. Drivers may be keeping an eagle-eye out for other cars, but not so much for scooters. Ways to increase your visibility include:
  • Keeping your headlight on night and day
  • Wearing protective clothing that covers your arms and legs, ideally with bright colors or reflective tape
  • Ditching the flip-flops and wearing protective boots
  • Staying out of other drivers’ blind spots
  • Don’t ride in another driver’s blind spot. Stay behind and to the right of the vehicle in front of you so you can see the vehicle’s turn signals
• Give Yourself Time and Space to Brake.
  • Stay a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you when coming to a stop.
  • Leave a two-second distance between you and the car ahead of you so you have time to react if they suddenly stop
  • Flash your brake light to warn others if you’ll be slowing down soon
  • Apply both brakes at the same time
  • Brake before entering a curve or turn
• Protect Your Head. As with motorcycle accidents, perhaps the single biggest danger with riding a scooter or moped is the risk of a serious brain injury. Wearing a helmet, which is actually required under Georgia law, can go a long way towards preventing that in the event of a collision.
• Don’t be Distracted. Your phone can be just as dangerous on your moped as it can be behind the wheel of a car. Don’t text or use your phone in any way that takes your hands of the handlebars and your focus off the road.

If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a scooter or a moped, we can help. Please call us at (770) 727-5550 or chat live online with a member of our staff today.