It’s May—and that means it’s also Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The Georgia Department of Driver Services wants to remind drivers to pay extra attention to motorcycles on the road this month—and the organization offers resources to help improve the outcome for motorcycles on the road.
Compared to cars and other, larger vehicles that offer more protection, motorcycle riders experience 28 times the fatalities per miles ridden. While motorcycles offer a great deal of fun to drive on the road, they also come with a long list of hazards. Motorcycles provide little safety in a crash: instead of a frame to protect the driver, they may actually cause more damage as they land on top of him. This month, take an extra moment to learn more about motorcycle safety. Follow some of these key tips to help keep motorcycles around you safer.
1. Look Twice
As the temperature warms across the United States, more motorcycle riders take to the roads—especially during June, July, and August, when many riders take vacation time and spend their vacations touring on their bikes. Acknowledge that increase in motorcycle traffic, then make sure you take the time to look for them. Any time you make a turn or change lanes, look twice to make sure you acknowledge any motorcycles in the area.
Often, the drivers of cars and other vehicles miss the presence of motorcycles on the road with them. Most of the time, drivers look for familiar patterns. While driving, you may typically look for large, vehicle-shaped things on the road. Smaller things—like motorcycles and pedestrians, for example—may go unnoticed because they do not fit the appropriate pattern in your mind. Looking twice, however, reminds your brain to pay attention to more than just large vehicles in the road, increasing the odds that you will see a motorcycle rather than crashing into it.
2. Track the Progress of Motorcycles Around You
You noticed a motorcycle coming up behind you several miles ago, but let them fade from your attention when they did not pass you. Now, you need to change lanes. You do not see the motorcycle when you glance around you, so you go ahead and move over. A blaring horn then lets you know that you barely missed the motorcycle.
Motorcycles often fit tidily into the blind spots of larger vehicles. Unfortunately, the fact that they fit into your blind spot makes it very easy for you to miss noticing them. To help decrease the odds that you will strike a motorcycle rider with your car, pay attention to motorcycles when they appear around you. Keep an eye on where they go until they move out of your range completely, whether by passing on ahead of you or turning off the road. Check periodically to let you know where they are even when they sit several cars behind you. By paying attention, you can decrease accident risk substantially.
3. Leave Plenty of Room
Because motorcycles have a small profile, it’s often tempting to ease in closer to them. You might assume that the motorcycle will stop fast and maneuver easily. As a result, you may not offer a motorcycle as much room as you would give a larger vehicle.
Instead of coming pulling up too close to a motorcycle, however, give the motorcycle rider plenty of room to maneuver. Like other vehicles, motorcycles deserve to use the entire lane or an entire parking space as needed. Treat motorcycles with the same respect you would give other, larger vehicles. Leave plenty of room when merging in front of them or pulling around them. Do not encroach on the motorcycle’s lane when passing.
In inclement weather, you may need to leave even more room for motorcycles. Their lighter, smaller size makes them more prone to spinning out or sliding on wet roads, which can substantially increase their risk of accidents. Most riders avoid riding in the rain if possible; however, summer rainstorms may crop up without warning, or riders may get stuck on the road during a storm as part of a longer road trip. In poor weather, offer even more care and room for motorcycles as you pass and maneuver around them.
4. Watch for Signals (But Don’t Make Assumptions)
Unlike larger vehicles, most motorcycle turn signals do not turn themselves off after the rider makes their turn. If you see a motorcycle’s turn signal flashing, do not make assumptions. Slow down and give the rider room to maneuver. While a turn signal may indicate a plan to turn, the rider may have already completed their turn and simply failed to turn off the turn signal. Do not assume one way or the other; instead, give the rider plenty of room to maneuver as they need to. Back off, if needed, to ensure that the rider has plenty of room to turn or to change lanes if needed.
5. Double Check Your Blind Spot
Before executing a turn or changing lanes, check your blind spot for motorcycles. if you drive a larger vehicle, you likely already know where your blind spots are. Rather than simply glancing in your mirror and assuming you can change lanes safely, take the time to turn physically and check your blind spots. While you can pay attention to your mirrors and keep an eye on how traffic flows around you, motorcycles may slip more easily into your blind spot. With a manual check, you can ensure that the space is empty and that you can change lanes without causing problems for other drivers.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident?
Did you suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident? You might have driven a motorcycle near a careless driver who failed to leave enough room for you to maneuver, or you might have suffered injuries in an accident when a motorcycle rider failed to adhere to proper safety precautions. Whatever led to your motorcycle accident, if you suffered serious injuries, you may need legal help to increase the odds that you will receive appropriate compensation. Contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, today, at (404) 418-8244 to schedule your free consultation or to learn more about how a lawyer can help with your motorcycle accident claim.
