There’s only one road, and we all have to share it. We don’t always like to, but we have to. The tension between drivers and motorcyclists ebbs and flows, but one is at far greater risk than the other. Motorcycles are smaller, less visible, and do not surround the rider with five tons of steel like cars do. Accidents happen, of course, but mitigating the risk is increasingly possible. It’s on the drivers to look out and it’s on the riders to be seen. Here’s how to get it done and stay safe on the roads we share.
Drivers Aren’t Always Looking Out
The unfortunate reality is that riders need to put more work into being seen than drivers will put into looking out. It’s not fair, but it’s the truth. Drivers will not always think to look for a motorcycle, so any way that riders can make themselves more visible only helps. This includes wearing bright or reflective clothing or placing reflectors on the body of the bike. Riders can also turn their headlights on and keep them on at all times, including daytime.
The obnoxiously loud engine helps too. It’s hard for anyone to tune that noise out. A great way to irritate people is to rev a motorcycle engine. In fact, you don’t even have to rev it. You just have to run it. The sound alone easily annoys 75% of people. Don’t quote me on that. An annoyed look from a driver is a point in the direction of safety. Who cares if they’re annoyed? They can see you and you want them to see you. If they hear you, they can more easily see you.
If you do all of these things and a driver still manages not to see you, then you should probably snag a Cherry Hill motorcycle accident lawyer. Riders can only do so much to keep themselves safe. The pressure is on them to be seen, but drivers are the ones who need to put in more work to make sure they’re aware of their surroundings.
Motorcycle Riders Are Not Protected Like Drivers
Drivers are protected by about five tons of steel. Riders are not. Their bodies are out in the open and are at a higher risk to be injured or killed in the event of an accident. Because of that risk, drivers need to be more aware of their surroundings in order to avoid hitting a motorcycle.
One way drivers can accomplish this is by maintaining an appropriate following distance. Keeping at least a two- to three-car distance behind a motorcycle is smart. They stop much quicker than cars can. Their sudden stop could mean their injury or death if you are too close behind them. Besides, no one likes a tailgater.
Drivers should also effectively communicate via their turn signals. That doesn’t mean suddenly turning them on as you make a lane change. That’s not cool. It means turning the signal on, waiting a beat, then quickly and safely changing lanes. Giving a rider the more time to react means they can work to stay out of your way as you change lanes.
This doesn’t mean riders are void of responsibility either. If they sneak up way too quickly and cause an accident themselves, then drivers need to get themselves a Long Island car accident lawyer. Having a legal professional to back you up when you’re not at fault is critical after an accident.
Most Common Accidents Involving Both Motorcycles and Cars
Staying safe on the road also means being aware of incidents where you’re more likely to get into an accident. Being aware of the higher risk moments can help you, your passengers, and other drivers and riders all the safer.
Left-Turn Accidents
This one’ll get ya. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, about 26% of all car accidents result from a left turn. These occur because the driver does not, or cannot, see a motorcycle as it makes its way up to pass and instead smacks into your car. They can be deadly.
Rear-End Collisions
As mentioned previously, motorcycles are able to stop more quickly than cars. If a driver is tailgating a rider, a sudden stop can be deadly. It’s worth emphasizing again, don’t be a tailgater.
Blind Spot Accidents
The aptly named blind spots cause plenty of accidents. Motorcycles are even more at risk because of their smaller size. When a car has to make a sudden lane change, or doesn’t take their time checking their surroundings, they can sideswipe or collide with a motorcycle riding in their blind spot.
Dooring Accidents
Dooring hurts. They happen when a parked car suddenly opens the door into an oncoming motorcycle. While more common with bicyclists, motorcycles fall victim to these incidents as well. The best way dooring can be avoided is to open the car door with your inside hand. That is, if you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, you use your right hand. If in the passenger, you use your left. This makes it more likely that you will look in the side mirror as you open the door and more easily spot oncoming traffic.
There’s Only One Road
We have to share the road with one another. That means being aware of our surroundings and having mutual respect for other drivers and riders just trying to get where they need to go. Accidents happen, they always will. But we can reduce or mitigate those accidents if we understand our high risk moments, take our time to check our surroundings, and acting responsibly.
