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‘Better Safe Than Sorry!’ – How a well-equipped safety kit can ensure a safe drive

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Published on June 13, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

The thrill of riding a two-wheeler should not take your focus off safety. A bike safety kit is the best way to ensure that you are ready for any number of eventualities. The kit is easy to prepare and takes up very little space. Whether you are commuting to work, running errands or going on a road trip, this kit can save you and your precious bike in more ways than one.

Here is a short checklist to help you prepare your bike riding safety kit.

1. First Aid Kit: Every vehicle manufacturer is legally mandated to provide a first aid kit with the new vehicle they sell. Generally, these kits contain antiseptic, painkiller, gel or cream for cuts, bruises or burns. They also come with medical tape, cotton and bandages to clean and cover cuts or wounds. These medicines can save lives and prevent wounds from turning into full-blown infections. It is super important that you always keep this first aid kit with you, and when the medicines expire, replace them promptly. Most of the medicines in these kits are over the counter, so you can quickly get them at any chemist shop.

2. Copy of important documents: Whenever you are riding a two-wheeler, you are legally required to carry four documents with you. These are your driving license, the registration certificate of your bike, pollution under control certificate and TWO-WHEELER INSURANCE POLICY. Missing even one of these documents can land you with fines worth thousands of rupees or even jail time. Remember that these are not just for your safety! Your bike insurance, for example, is meant to provide appropriate protection to you and to other people who are on the road. You must always ensure that the documents are well within their validity period and are renewed on time.

3. High visibility jacket: A high visibility jacket has proven to be a useful safety device in many industries. These are particularly useful and are recommended or even legally mandated in many countries. In India, where many roads still do not have any streetlights or are not even dual carriageways, these high visibility jackets make you easily visible when you are riding by reflecting even the dimmest light. Even vehicles with dim headlamps will be able to stay clear of you. These jackets are cheap and easy to store as well.

4. Portable air compressor and tyre puncture kit: Ever since the widespread adoption of tubeless tyres, two-wheeler makers have stopped providing spare wheels with new vehicles. The problem is that the road conditions in India have not improved significantly to keep up with tubeless tyres. Hence, your tyres can still get punctured when riding, and you need to be prepared to fix them. The solution is to learn how to mend a puncture yourself and keep a puncture kit and a portable air compressor with you. You can even buy compressors with in-built batteries that work much better than other kinds of portable compressors.

5. Reflective triangle: While most cars come with a reflective triangle for road safety, these are generally missing when you buy two-wheelers. The purpose of these reflective triangles is to alert passing motorists that there is a broken-down vehicle up ahead. Many people think that two-wheelers do not need these safety triangles because of their relatively small size and that you can still move a broken vehicle to the side of the road. The reality is that a reflective triangle helps slow down the passing by traffic, thus ensuring their safety and that of any person working to fix your broken two-wheeler.

6. Safety goggles and rain protection poncho: These are simple and easy to procure safety devices. Riding any kind of two-wheeler in the rain means inviting unnecessary trouble. You can slip and fall. If it’s raining cats and dogs, other drivers will not be able to see you and might run into you. Then there is always the risk of getting drenched and catching a cold. In worst cases, you might even get pneumonia. So, what is the solution? Keep a rain poncho and clear safety glasses with you. When needed, park your two-wheeler and put on the poncho and glasses. Wait out the rain, and you can be on your way safely when it has stopped. In addition to this, you must always keep working gloves in your bike riding safety kit.

7. Spare parts and basic tools: This is useful if you go on rides where repair shops are far and few between. Headlight bulb, battery fuses, clutch cables etc., are some of the spare parts you can carry. Additionally, carry a multi-functional screwdriver or a military knife, enabling you to make repairs with little tools. Also, if you are not hands-on with repairs, it is suggested that you take some online lessons before you head out on your trip.

Key Takeaway

Journeys, short or distant, these pointers should keep protected and enhance your travelling experience. We would say better stay safe than feel sorry later.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

This blog has been written by:

Mukesh Kumar | Motor Insurance Expert | 36+ years of experience in insurance industry

A veteran in the insurance industry, Mukesh Kumar has the expertise of handling various functions like Business Development, Underwriting, Claims, Human Resources, Quality Management and Marketing. With rich knowledge of the industry, he loves to share his views on topics of insurance sector and takes special interest in educating people on advantages of having insurance

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