Motorcycle Safety on the road means drivers and motorcyclists must “share the road” with each other. And while reports show that motorcycle deaths are down in the United States, motorcycle accidents and death from motorcycle accidents are up in Pennsylvania according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Alcohol and speeding remain leading causes of both motorcycle accidents and motorcycle death rates in the country. 1
Top tips for sharing the road and being more aware of motorcycles:
- Check the positions of your rear- and side-view mirrors. Improperly positioned mirrors can mean big blind spots for drivers, blind spots that motorcycles might be in. Nearly 40% of the car’s surrounding area can be considered blind spots.
- Even with mirrors in the correct places, there are still blind spots. Always check blind spots, especially before changing lanes.
- Watch for motorcycles around signs or obstructions, especially at intersections.
- Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width. Share the road, but not the lane: a motorcyclist needs room to maneuver safely, which means giving motorcycles a full lane width, always.
- Always signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
- Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle-it may not be self-canceling and the motorcyclist may have forgotten to turn it off. Wait to be sure the rider is going to turn before you proceed.
- Allow more follow distance – three or four seconds – when following a motorcycle, because motorcyclists may need to suddenly change speed or position to avoid hazards such as potholes, gravel, wet roadways, and grooved pavement.
While caution behind the wheel or on a motorcycle may help keep the roads safer for everyone, accidents do happen. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, call our personal injury attorneys to set up a free consultation.
1 – Traffic Safety Marketing https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/CAMPAIGNS/Motorcycle+Safety/Share+The+Road/2016
