Motorcyclists are more vulnerable than your average motorists. They are both more likely to get into a crash and more likely to suffer serious injury if they do. There are many things that other drivers can do to help keep motorcyclists safe, and in turn, help keep themselves safer as well. The number one safety tip for drivers concerning motorcycles is to be aware of your blind spots.
Safety Tips That Protect Motorcyclists
Keeping motorcyclists safe helps to keep everyone safe. Road accidents always have the potential to have a ripple effect. Helping to ensure the safety of others also helps to ensure your own safety. Here are a few helpful tips for drivers to aid in improving the safety of anyone operating a motorcycle around you:
- Be mindful of your blind spots
- Use turn signals
- Don’t tailgate
- Dim your headlights
Be Mindful of Your Blind Spots
Motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles, and as a result, they take up much less of your field of vision. They can easily fit in your blind spots, and that can lead to disastrous results if you are not prepared. Be sure to thoroughly check your mirrors and physically turn your head to check your blind spots when you are changing lanes or turning. These are the times when motorcyclists are most at risk for an accident from other drivers on the road.
Use Turn Signals
This is a good rule of thumb safety guide, whether motorcycles are around or not. Everyone is much safer when they can see the intent of other drivers on the road. Of course, for the reasons mentioned before, this is particularly helpful for motorcyclists. Since you might not see them, with the warning of your turn signal, they can prepare themselves for your entrance into their lane.
Don’t Tailgate
Leave motorcycles with plenty of space ahead of you. Motorcyclists have to be more mindful of road conditions, so they may need to adjust accordingly for things that other drivers don’t have to worry nearly as much about. One example is a broken-off piece of tire on the road. Most cars would drive over it without worrying, but a motorcyclist may have to slow down to maneuver around it or quickly change lanes.
You should always make sure to leave plenty of space for them to perform these maneuvers so that everyone can stay safe. The more you cooperate with motorcyclists, the safer everyone will be on the road.
Keeping a safe distance when driving behind motorcycles is also extra important because if you do get a little too close to a car in front of you, as long as neither of you is being excessively reckless, a little bump probably won’t have very severe consequences. Aside from annoyance and maybe having to pay an auto body bill. Bumping a motorcycle, on the other hand, is almost certainly going to result in injury and could prove deadly.
Dim Headlights
Motorcyclists are more susceptible to the blinding light of high beams than other drivers. Dimming your lights when passing a motorcycle at night is both a big help in the safety department and just good old-fashioned common decency.
Motorcyclists Hurt by Negligence
Motorcyclists are very susceptible to injury due to the negligence of other drivers on the road. When not everyone is doing their part to promote safety on the roads, bikers are the ones most likely to suffer serious consequences. You can find a motorcycle accident lawyer who will offer a free consultation and free case evaluation in the event you are injured due to another driver’s negligence.
Roadway accidents are the leading cause of personal injury accidents in the United States every year. Improvements are constantly being made to roads and vehicles to improve safety. But the leading cause of car and motorcycle accidents is human error.
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