Some motorcycle riders crash because they don’t have enough experience. Others make mistakes that put them at unnecessary risk. Riding after drinking, going out during times of inclement weather or speeding are all choices that can increase collision risk for motorcycle riders.
Quite a few motorcycle crashes occur not because of something the rider did or failed to do but rather the conduct of others in traffic. Other people are a major hazard for motorcycle riders, and riders may want to learn about defensive riding techniques as a way of protecting themselves in traffic.
The three tips shared below may help motorcycle riders limit their risk of a collision that could have catastrophic consequences.
1. Pretend to be invisible
Many motorcycle crashes occur because people don’t watch for motorcycles in traffic. Drivers who don’t intentionally look for motorcycles might fail to mentally acknowledge them even when they are plainly visible across an intersection.
Riders can protect themselves by acknowledging this common issue and pretending to be invisible. If they make choices while operating under the assumption that others don’t see them, they are less likely to get hurt when turning or traveling on a busy road.
2. Make double-checking a standard practice
Many safety experts advise drivers and motorcycle riders to look left, right and then left again before turning or merging. It is easier for drivers to overlook those approaching from the left in many circumstances.
Other vehicles can also approach far more rapidly than motorcycle riders might anticipate, especially on urban roads with lower speed limits. Making it a point to double-check before proceeding through an intersection, merging or turning could be the difference between avoiding a crash and getting hit by a driver.
3. Be proactive about communication
Turn signals and brake lights serve key safety functions in traffic. They help notify others about an upcoming turn or the need to slow their vehicles.
Motorcycle riders can potentially build on those basic forms of communication by making eye contact with drivers at intersections. Particularly in scenarios where motorcycle riders intend to turn left, validating through visual communication that another driver has acknowledged their presence could potentially prevent a collision.
When motorcycle crashes do occur, riders may need help maximizing their insurance recovery and looking at other ways to hold unsafe drivers accountable. The people who cause motorcycle crashes may have to compensate injured riders for the consequences of their unsafe habits or negligence.