If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, you will probably love nothing more than to hit the open road on your bike and go on exciting adventures. When on the road, there are several dangers and challenges that all motorcyclists face, especially when you factor in that motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in a crash when compared with car occupants.
Whether you’ve recently passed your test, or you’ve been riding for many years, here are four common causes of motorcycle accidents and what steps you can take to avoid them from happening.
Speeding
One of the leading causes of all kinds of auto accidents is due to speeding. As a motorcyclist, you must adhere to the rules of the road to keep you and other motorists safe. If you speed, your reaction time will decrease, putting you at an increased risk of a collision. The greater your speed, the higher the impact and severity of injuries you and other passengers could sustain. Even if you’re late for work, or have an emergency to get to, there are still no excuses for speeding.
Driving Under the influence
Motorcyclists who drive under the influence of alcohol or take drugs are putting themselves, pedestrians and other road users at risk. Safe driving requires the ability to focus which helps you make good judgments and means you can react quickly to situations. Alcohol and drugs can impair your driving skills in numerous ways, such as by reducing concentration, coordination, and decreasing vision. If you’ve consumed alcohol or taken drugs, you should never get on your motorcycle.
Other Road Users
While many motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence and carelessness of the driver, it’s not always the motorcyclist who is at fault. As your motorcycle will be much smaller than the size of an average vehicle, you will be less likely to be seen by other motorists. This means that bikers need to be much more alert when on the road. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident and suffer a personal injury, there are experienced lawyers who practice in motorcycle accidents that you can contact.
Poor Weather Conditions
Depending on where you live in the United States, severe weather conditions like a storm or hurricane can hinder your driving and put you at risk of a motorcycle accident. Adverse weather is responsible for many auto accidents, with motorcycles sustaining more damage than a car. When visibility is poor, you must keep a close eye on patches of oil and manhole covers that may be harder to spot.
Although motorcyclists only make up 1% of total road accidents, they account for 15% of traffic deaths. There are all sorts of reasons why motorcycle accidents occur. And while bikers get bad press, the cause of their accident may not always be their fault. To keep safe on the road, make sure that you wear protective gear and keep your full concentration on what’s in front and behind you.