Emergency Situations and Incident Procedures
When things go wrong
Braking emergencies: apply both brakes smoothly and progressively, keep the machine upright and the bars straight, and avoid locking a wheel. If a wheel locks, release and reapply. If a collision is unavoidable, reduce speed as much as possible and aim to hit at an angle rather than head-on. In a corner, if you enter too fast, the safest response is usually to lean further and maintain throttle rather than grab the brake - braking mid-corner stands the bike up and runs you wide.
Skids: stay off the brakes, look where you want to go, and let the machine stabilise. A front-wheel skid needs immediate, gentle release of the brake. Blowouts: hold the bars firmly, ease off the throttle, avoid hard braking, and steer to a safe stop.
After a collision
Stop, switch off, make the scene safe and warn other traffic. Do not move an injured rider unless there is immediate danger. Call emergency services, give clear location details, and do not remove a helmet unless the airway is at risk. Exchange details, record witnesses and photographs, and report the incident to police as required. Give first aid only within your competence.
Traps
Distractors encourage snatching the front brake, swerving into oncoming traffic, or riding away from a minor collision. Leaving the scene is a serious offence even with no injury.
Rule of thumb: in any emergency, the priorities are reduce speed, stay upright, then steer - in that order.
Worked example: you enter a bend too fast. Ease the throttle slightly, look through the corner and increase lean; braking hard mid-bend is more likely to cause a crash.