Local motorcycle school offers safety tips during Thunder Beach

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Riding in a straight line, coming to a complete stop, and learning how to share the road.

These may be some of the basics, but motorcyclists have to start somewhere.

“We handle all of that on sight right here and you leave with a waiver so you can you can take it to the DMV and show them you have met the credentials so you can get your endorsement,” said rider coach, Blake Morris with Emerald Coast Motorcycle Training.

Morris says most of the motorcycle wrecks he has seen have involved improper braking.

“If I was going to give any advice to some riders out there it would be practice your braking skills, you know, that way you are more likely to pull it off when you need it,” said Morris.

Other safety tips can be as simple as paying attention to what you are doing, for both motorcyclists and car drivers.

“Just keep as much of a space cushion as possible of course. You know, car drivers now a days, I am part of it too but, we are easily distracted, these cars are easy to drive. If you are a motorcyclist around another vehicle, just assume they don’t see you and just give yourself as much of a space cushion as possible,” said Morris.

Last but not least, mentally prepare for how you will get out of a dangerous situation.

“Just kind of thinking what if so that way, you know, we’ve got an escape path and our route we can take just in case we are working our way through traffic and someone possibly does not see us and makes a lane change or something,” explained Morris.

With hundreds of bikers on the road, safety is worth paying attention to.

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