When I was in my 20’s I considered learning to ride. I worked for a land surveyor at the time and we had a client who was a policeman who rode. I had a chance to talk to him about motorcycles and he was quick to warn me to take a safety course, learn as much as I could and be careful. He took my asking very seriously and it hit home. A few days later while waiting for my car at a local repair shop I picked up the local paper and read that the policeman who’d spoken to me had been killed and his daughter seriously injured when an elderly motorist turned left in front of them. I was sick to my stomach and didn’t consider riding again until more than 10 years later. When I finally did decide to ride I remembered the generosity and gravity he spoke with, it left a mark and has influenced my riding ever since. If you are ever in a position to mentor a young rider, do it. They will remember it and you could have a tremendous impact on their riding and their lives.
Ride safe.