When it’s cold and the roads are icy, motorcyclists typically hibernate until the weather begins to warm. But once May rolls around, riders return to the roads, and drivers have to start watching out for them. In order to remind the community that riders are on the road with them – even if they may not see them – May has been designated as Motorcycle Awareness Month.
Motorcycles are motor vehicles with the same rights, responsibilities, and privileges as other legal road vehicles, and should be treated with the same courtesy and care. Unfortunately, motorcycles are simply much harder to see than the typical vehicle. And when drivers are increasingly distracted by their cell phones, radios or passengers, they are even less likely to see a rider.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention three seconds before the accident event. Riders should also consider a recent study by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), which concluded that riding too fast and passing, particularly on the right, increases the risk of crashing by 18 times. So, an inattentive driver will have an even harder time seeing a motorcycle if the rider is speeding.
Tips for Drivers:
- Allow greater following distance behind a motorcycle.
- Remain extra cautious at intersections. Most crashes occur when a driver fails to see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of them.
- Never try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Always give a motorcycle the full-lane width.
- ALWAYS check your blind spot.
Riders Should Also Take Precautions:
- Enroll in a defensive driving course.
- Take action to be seen. Stay out of blind spots, wear bright clothing and leave plenty of room.
- Wear protective gear.
- Ride the speed limit.
At Hupy and Abraham, not only do we represent riders, many of our attorneys and staff are riders as well! So we work hard to spread our “Watch For Motorcycles” and “DNT TXT N DRV” messages throughout our communities. Distracted driving is a detriment to motorcyclists, as well as other drivers and pedestrians.
If you would like to support Motorcycle Awareness Month, request a FREE Watch For Motorcycles sticker (vintage or traditional) from Hupy and Abraham today and help save lives!
Hupy and Abraham is the law firm that has represented over 3,000 injured riders. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys are here to help. Contact us at 800-800-5678, or start a live chat 24/7 at Hupy.com.
