Although motorcycles are adored across the planet, they pose a fair amount of danger to their riders. The National Highway Traffic Safeway Administration (NHTSA) keeps records of the types of accidents that tend to be most serious. Fortunately, there are actions that motorcyclists can take in order to avoid these accidents before they happen.
Speeding
Although it may seem somewhat simple, one of the first actions riders can take to improve their safety is to stop speeding. One-third of all motorcyclists who are killed in crashes are later found to be speeding.
“Dooring”
Especially in the city, motorcyclists need to keep their eyes out for people exiting their cars. Many times, car drivers will park their vehicles and then open their doors quickly, without checking to see if any bicyclists or motorcyclists are passing by. This is yet another hazard that motorcyclists should continually look out for; the only way to avoid dooring is through vigilance on the road.
Accidents Involving Alcohol
If they want to stay safe, riders must abstain from alcohol before getting on their bikes. In 2021, a stunning 29% of fatal motorcycle crashes in America were found to involve riders who were impaired by alcohol.
Rear-Ending
Although rear-ending accidents tend to be referred to “fender benders” when two cars are involved, these incidents can become catastrophic when a motorcyclist is involved. Those who ride motorcycles are encouraged to install brighter brake lights in order to make themselves more visible to car drivers who may be following them. Also, motorcyclists should maintain a high level of care when it comes to maintaining a safe distance from those driving in front of them. Just a few seconds of inattention can lead to absolute disaster.
Lane-Splitting Incidents
In order to get an advantage in bad traffic, motorcyclists will often weave between lanes — with sometimes disastrous consequences. These are the accidents in which car drivers never even see the motorcycle in their midst — until it is far too late. The faster you’re going, the more devastating the accident may become. Remember that being in someone’s “blind spot” can carry the most serious consequences.
Cars Turning Left into a Motorcycle
Again, it cannot be emphasized just how often car drivers do not notice motorcyclists. When cars are making a left, it is very common for them to either think that they can “beat” the motorcycle when the rider is traveling at a higher rate of speed than they estimate. Drivers may cause left-turn accidents when they fail to yield, are distracted by their phones, misjudge the distance to a motorcycle or when they are driving under the influence. After a bad accident, many drivers will say that they never even saw the motorcycle coming. The key to avoiding this type of accident seems to be to slow it down and exercise caution.
Risk and Reward
As enjoyable as it is to ride a motorcycle, the pursuit carries some inherent risks that should be respected before one sets out on the open road. The key to minimizing these risks is being able to anticipate trouble ahead of time. When in doubt, assume that the car driver does not see you on your bike — and ride accordingly.
