Riding a motorcycle on Singapore roads is very dangerous. The number of motorcyclist and pillion rider fatalities increased by 44.7%, from 47 persons in 2022 to 68 persons in 2023. The following will help the new rider survive a little longer riding on roads filled with angry, frustrated road users living in Singapore's high pressure economy.

1. Always ride with a full face helmet, riding jacket (with shoulder, elbow and back protection), riding jeans or pants (with hip and knee protection), riding gloves and riding boots. This will protect your body from serious injuries when you have to jump off your bike in the event of an imminent accident. To know if you are properly attired for motorcycling, ask yourself if you are ready to jump off the bike at speed.

2. Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the handlebars at all times when on the motorcycle.

3. Always keep to the left lane until you have more experience and confidence.

4. Stay within the road's speed limit of 60km/h when there are no road signs or 70 km/h on highways and 90km/h on expressways. And of course, stay below 40km/h in silver and school zones.

5. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. This allows sufficient space to stop or avoid a collision in the event of an emergency or when the vehicle in front suddenly brakes.

6. Keep checking your blind spots and rear view mirrors for vehicles around you. Always know what is around you so that you can react accordingly fast.

7. Signal your intentions using your blinkers to turn, change lane or overtake. If your bike has hazard lights, use them when going straight in an uncontrolled intersection.

8. Slow down when approaching a traffic light that has been green for some time. Suddenly braking from speed when the light turns against your favour may result in the vehicle behind crashing into you.

9. Always have an "emergency exit" in mind when on the road. You must know immediately where to ride towards in an emergency. For example, a car in front of you suddenly stops and you immediately swerve left or right or onto the grass verge to your "emergency exit" to avoid a collision.

10. Try not to ride in the rain until you are fully confident riding in the dry.

11. Slow down when riding pass parked vehicles. Pedestrians or cyclists may just jump out in front of you. Also, parked vehicles may just move and turn into your path suddenly.

12. Lane split only when vehicles around you are not moving at a traffic light stop or in a traffic jam. Do not lane split when you are on the move. Lane splitting is very dangerous and should only be attempted when you are confident with lots of road experience. Click here to know more about lane splitting.

13. Slow down when uncertain or in doubt, especially at night. Stop if your gut feeling tells you to do so. Do not ride if you are tired or unwell. You will need all your senses working effectively to stay alive on a motorcycle on Singapore roads.

14. And last but not least, be patient when on the road. Losing a few minutes is better than losing your life.

Note: The above is based on my personal riding experience and those of other bikers. Please feel free to send me more tips or experiences so that myself and others will learn from them.