Road Safety
Road Safety
Practical habits for riders carrying loads on mixed roads.
01
Helmet, every trip
Including the short one. Most serious head injuries happen within a few kilometres of home, at speeds riders assume are safe.
02
Load low and tied
Weight high on the carrier changes how the machine steers long before it feels unstable. Tie down, and refuse the load that will not sit low.
03
Brakes before the rain
Check shoes and cable free-play at the start of the wet season, not after the first skid. Worn shoes lose far more in the wet than in the dry.
04
Be visible at dusk
Dusk is the worst hour on Tanzanian roads. Keep the rear lamp working and wear something reflective over dark clothing.
05
One passenger, seated
Overloading a commuter machine with three or more riders removes almost all of the braking margin the frame was designed around.