Watch Out For Motorcycles – Safety Road Tips
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 4,956 motorcyclists were killed in 2015. While a few of these incidents involved single-vehicle incidents, the majority of them involved automobiles.
We have the duty as drivers of cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs not only to share the road but also to take proactive measures to help increase motorcycle safety when we come across motorcyclists on our route. Watch out for motorcycles in this article.
There has been a significant rise in the number of motorcycles on the road in recent years, owing to rising gas costs. Many drivers have switched to super-efficient motorcycles in order to cut down on fuel usage.
This trend has resulted in a large number of inexperienced motorcycle drivers, many of whom get involved in collisions with automobiles. Drivers must be conscious that motorcycles may be found on any kind of road.
The automobile driver is responsible for a large number of motorcycle/automobile accidents. Even if you are being constantly aware that a motorcyclist may be near your car, here are some things you can do to keep both motorcyclists and yourself safe.
How To Manage Motorcycles When Driving
Although it may be difficult for those who have never ridden a bike to understand the actions of riders, we must practice patience.
Rather than go through every detail of their driving behavior, we should simply follow the “big guidelines.”
Always Double-Check Your Blind Spots!
One of the most common causes of motorcycle and automobile accidents. Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, making it more difficult to notice while merging or changing lanes.
Unlike a big automobile, the shape of a motorcycle and its rider is more likely to merge into the pictures you see in your rear-view and side-view mirrors.
Take your time before merging, and spend several seconds examining each of your vehicle’s blind spots before proceeding with your planned movement.
Make A Conscious Note
Make a mental note that bikers are out there on particularly hot days during the winter season and throughout the spring, summer, and fall. We should remind ourselves of cyclists in much the same manner as we do when looking for youngsters in neighborhoods.
Share the road. Bikers can only do so much to safeguard themselves. Let us assist them by paying attention to them more closely. As a result, you’ll be a safer driver for it all around. You’ll find everything else if you’re searching for tiny motorcycles specifically!
Allow them to enjoy their independence. Allow them to appreciate the journey. Let’s keep our riders safe and secure. They are our friends, neighbors, family members, and co-workers.
Please follow these motorbike safety suggestions so that everyone can participate in this great American pastime!
Weather Warning
The worst type of weather is one that includes exceptionally hot temperatures and low visibility, such as a dust storm.
Motorcycle drivers will be hit much harder by bad weather than automobile drivers since their protective clothing can get so saturated with sweat or water that it chokes off circulation and causes bodily harm.
Windy weather might make it tough for motorcyclists to handle their cars on the road. Also keep in mind that poor weather conditions frequently reduce your visibility, making motorcycles more difficult to spot.
Let Them Swerve
If you’re riding a motorcycle, keep an eye on the traffic in both directions. Motorcycle riders frequently weave from side to side in their lane.
They have a solid cause for this. Running over a pothole while driving harms us as drivers since it jars us and in the worst-case scenario, ruins our vehicle’s alignment.
However, a biker’s life may be in jeopardy if he or she misses a pothole! And that is just the beginning! Take into account roadkill, oil stains, and other sorts of road debris.
Some roads can be difficult for them to navigate. Bikers like to shift places in their lane to avoid making other drivers uncomfortable by appearing to ride behind their cars.
The greatest thing to do is provide them as much room as feasible. Bikers must avoid a variety of obstacles. So don’t crowd them. Allow them plenty of room. If you want to go by, do it fast and get out of the way.
Stay In Your Lane
Motorcycles have their own lane of traffic, which is recognized by the law. In no circumstance are you permitted to drive your car in the same direction as a motorbike or ahead of it within a certain distance?
Even if these cars are tiny or appear to have a lot of extra areas, driving in a single lane with a motorbike is a recipe for an accident and improper.
Watch For Turning Motorcycles
It was not until the late 1970s that self-canceling turn indicators became popular on motorbikes. Although many motor vehicles on the road today still do not feature self-canceling turn signals, we are now familiar with them.
Increase your following distance if a bike is using an activated turn signal for an excessively long period of time. When the rider makes a decision to turn, you’ll have enough time to react if you maintain a greater following distance.
Intersections Are Danger Zones
Blind intersections are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists and automobiles since they account for the majority of vehicle accidents that involve both vehicles and motorcycles.
Every time you approach an intersection, follow the safety procedure for traffic signals and signs: come to a full stop, look at and obey posted traffic signs and signals, check both ways for approaching vehicles, and go slowly.
Take A Second Look At Left-Turns
Take a quick look at the motorcyclists approaching before changing left.
Motorcycle collisions with automobiles while they are making a left turn can be very serious, owing to the fact that the motorcycle t-bones the automobile as it approaches completion of the maneuver.
Indicate Your Intention To Turn
When you discover there is a motorcycle approaching behind you, begin your turn signal a little sooner than usual. This is not only polite, but it also helps to prevent collisions between motorcycles.
