A motorcycle accident is frightening, painful, and sometimes, close to impossible to avoid. In a motorcycle accident, the crashes are louder, the impacts to the body are harder, and time to prepare for impact is almost always shorter, sometimes non-existent. Motorcycle riders often have to lay their bikes down, to avoid a crash, and even if there is no contact with the other vehicle, these accidents still result in personal injuries, to the rider, due to the poor choices of another. Because motorcycles only have two wheels, there are other issues on the road that can cause motorcycle accidents, like broken oil lines, that leave oil on the road, potentially causing a motorcycle to lose balance and crash. Also, motorcycles are smaller than cars and sometimes other drivers do not give them the attention they deserve, causing motorcycle wrecks and personal injuries.
It would be safe to say that all riders are drivers, but not all drivers are riders! If you are a motorcycle rider, you know that even though the person that sits behind the wheel of a car is called a driver, the person that sits behind the handlebars on a motorcycle is called a rider. Riders have a significant advantage, over drivers, when it comes to awareness of other riders. If you have never ridden a motorcycle, you are less likely to keep your eye open for motorcycle riders, but that is no excuse for not intentionally looking for riders. As drivers, we have the responsibility to make the road safe for all fellow road travelers, not just the ones on four wheels!
The two main factors that make a motorcycle dangerous are decreased crashworthiness and decreased visibility. Automobile makers spend massive amounts of money in research and application, attempting to give their vehicles the best crashworthy ratings. The focus is on things like seatbelts, crumple zones, airbags, etc. These are levels of protection added to a vehicle, to make it a safer ride for the occupants. As you can see, a motorcycle has none of these added levels of protection. There are no driver or occupant protections provided to the rider or the passenger. Also, a motorcycle weighs significantly less than most other vehicles on the highways and roadways. The brunt of the force of the impact between a motorcycle and vehicle will be forced upon the motorcycle.
Decreased visibility of a motorcycle can lead to a real danger zone. This becomes a significant concern, when considering a vehicle's blind spots, where the driver cannot directly see. Larger vehicles have larger blind spots, like tractor trailers, increasing the size of the potential danger zone for the rider.
Some common blind spots are:
the space between what you see when you are looking ahead and what you see when you are looking in your rearview mirror
the area that is obscured by your vehicle's bodywork, when you are looking in the side mirrors, and
blind spots potentially caused by window pillars and head rests.
One other danger factor that riders have to deal with, much more than drivers, is road debris. When drivers lose their load, be it an 18-wheeler carrying a commercial load or an individual carrying a mattress, this could be a death sentence for a rider and/or their passenger, due to the non-existent external protection from the motorcycle. An almost invisible, sometimes deadly danger for riders comes from lost vehicle fluids, be it from oil leaks or broken brake lines, or any other numerous fluids that could come from a vehicle. Riders cannot always see these fluids and riding into them could cause great harm to the rider and their bike.
In order to combat decreased crashworthiness and decreased visibility, the rider must wear protective gear, not only a helmet, but also clothes that fully cover their skin. Some riders also wear "leathers", not only because they look rugged, but they offer an extra layer of protection. In effect, this makes the rider more "crashworthy", to make up for the bike's fewer protective features. To make the bike more visible, the rider can add reflective tape to the forks and even the wheels. They can also add extra lighting, like LED lights, to the body of the bike, to make it more visible. Brake lights can also be modified to flash, when the brake is engaged, giving the drivers behind, additional notice that the rider is slowing or stopping. States have different laws regarding flashing brake lights and LED lights, so the rider will want to make sure they follow the state laws, when making these modifications. Another option for increasing visibility is bright gear and clothing for the rider. Neon orange and yellow safety vests, like construction workers wear, make the rider more visible to the drivers. Also, when riding, the rider needs to focus on staying away from any potential blind spots, especially with tractor trailers, to maintain visibility for other drivers on the road.
The most important things a driver can do, to make the road safer for a rider, are to be alert and be aware. As with any time you are driving, do not have distractions; no texting and driving; no drunk driving; no drowsy driving. Every time you get into your vehicle, fix your rearview mirror so that that your back window is completely visible. Adjust your side view mirrors to best compensate for your vehicle's blind spot. Make sure to look over your shoulder, as you change lanes or join traffic. Use your blinker to let bikers know what you are planning to do next. When driving behind a rider, follow the 4 second rule; allow for at least a 4 second cushion between your car and the motorcycle. If there is a passenger in the vehicle, ask them to help you look for riders. If you park on a busy street, make sure to check before you open your door, so that a rider does not crash into the door and flip over it.
Road safety is a responsibility that all drivers and riders, alike, bear. "Share the road" is a common theme with bikers and bicyclists. Drivers need to be on high alert for travelers using alternate forms of transportation. Motorcycles offer many advantages, not only to riders, but also to our environment and to other drivers on the road. We all need to be alert, be safe, and be aware!
Don't fight this battle alone!
As an experienced rider and attorney, I know the fear and frustration that follow a motorcycle crash. Call me, at 903-472-0100 and we can fight the good fight together!
