The jury is still out on whether or not scooters are safer than motorcycles on the road – studies suggest that motorcycles suffer more single-vehicle accidents than scooters, but that motorcyclists also feel less safe riding a scooter. Ultimately, the difference in safety between the two comes down to their usage, and your intended usage as a rider.
Scooter Vs Motorcycle Safety – What Are the Differences?
Speed Range
Scooters and motorbikes have different speed ranges, owing to the differing sizes and engine sizes of each. Motorbikes often have larger, more powerful engines, meaning they naturally pace faster than scooters, which have weaker engines. Scooters are more suited to city driving and stop-start traffic as a result, being easier to control at slower speeds. Motorbikes are safer on longer stretches of road.
Stability
Motorbikes have a long wheelbase, which, when coupled with their speed capabilities, makes them much more stable at higher speeds than mopeds. Mopeds have small wheels, closer together, and are lighter to boot – making them nimble at slower speeds, but less suited to rougher terrain.
Scooter Safety Tips
Wear a Helmet
Not only is it the law to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or moped, it is a proven lifesaver. Head injuries are common in scooter accidents, owing to the nature of any fall from one – as such, wearing a protective safety helmet can drastically reduce the likelihood of concussion or head trauma in the event of an accident.
Buy Protective Equipment
It pays to protect more than your head in the event of an accident; if you come off your scooter at a relatively high speed, the road can rip up even the hardiest of denims and cause serious damage to your skin in the form of road rash. Invest in protective leathers to keep your body safe, and consider wearing biker’s boots to keep your feet from sustaining injury.
Watch for Hazards on the Road
As a two-wheeled rider, you need to be more vigilant than ever before – and than everyone else – on the road. Many motorcycle instructors teach a simple tip: treat every motorist on the road as if they are actively trying to cause an accident. This way, you do not take the manoeuvres of other drivers for granted; your complacency could result in missing a driver error, and invite injury as a result. You should also invest in scooter insurance, to ensure you’re covered and fairly recompensed in the event that another driver does cause an accident.
Pay Attention to the Weather
The weather is also a bigger consideration for scooter users than for other drivers, for two reasons. Firstly, two-wheeled vehicles can be less stable in wet and icy weather than four-wheeled vehicles; and secondly, unprepared four-wheel vehicles can be dangerous to you in and of themselves.
