New York and other states have noted that visibility is a leading cause of motorcycle-related accidents. Motorcycles are much smaller than passenger vehicles and can easily fall in the blind spots of larger trucks. Improving visibility and awareness are both necessary to reduce the number of motorcycle-related accidents that happen.
How can motorcycle riders be more visible?
In an effort to decrease the number of car accidents that involve motorcycles, it’s vital that motorcycle riders work to enhance their visibility. This can be done in a number of different ways. The most obvious is to wear bright-colored clothing and helmets so that cars can more easily identify motorcyclists against the backdrop of the roadway. It’s also a good idea to consider riding with the headlight on in the daylight hours.
How can automobile drivers help to reduce accidents?
While enhancing their visibility is a great way for motorcyclists to help do their part to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents that happen, the buck doesn’t stop there. Automobile drivers should follow necessary safety precautions to assist in reducing the number of accidents that happen.
To start, automobile drivers need to remind themselves when they start down the roadway that motorcycles are prominent in the spring through late summer months. The most common type of accident happens when an automobile driver is making a left-hand turn into oncoming traffic. An automobile driver should always check twice to ensure that there is not a motorcycle coming when they make a left-hand turn across traffic.
While motorcycles only make up 3% of all registered vehicles on the roadway, they contributed to 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2017. It’s the job of motorcycle riders and automobile drivers alike to work together to reduce the number of accidents that happen each year.