Although the weather is cooler and the chances of snow are increasing, you may still have some time to jump on the bike for a quick ride. With rain, snow and ice, operating a motorcycle becomes more challenging to maneuver. Add drivers on the road to these environmental elements and the likelihood of a crash rises. As motorcycle injury lawyers in O’Fallon, IL, we wanted to provide these tips to avoid having to call us.
You can take precautionary measures to protect yourself if a collision were to occur or to reduce the severity, at least. The following two tips may help prevent this.
1. Be visible
The National Transportation Safety Board published a motorcycle safety report in 2018. The authors of the report stated that human error of the motorcycle rider or the vehicle driver accounted for about 94% of crashes. Of that 94%, over half was error on the part of the vehicle driver. These drivers reported that they failed to notice the motorcycle.
To avoid these types of collisions, wear safety gear with bright colors and reflective elements. Also make sure your bike has reflective features. Keep your headlight on during the day. Be aware of other vehicles and their blind spots, and stay as visible as possible. When riding near parked cars, stay well to the left of the lane. This way the driver may have a better chance of seeing you.
2. Practice
Practice safe riding habits. You may consider taking a motorcycle safety training course even though you are an experienced rider.
Focusing on defensive riding techniques may also be helpful, such as learning when and how to use your brakes in an emergency situation. You should also be comfortable performing sudden lane changes and swerving safely out of the way of an oncoming car or the open door of a parked vehicle. The more comfortable you are with maneuvers to avoid collisions, the more confident you may be in the case of an actual accident.
Each time you decide to get on a motorcycle, safety should be your number one priority. There is always the possibility you will have a crash. Accidents happen. Being aware and following these tips may help you avoid a wreck and the pain that comes with it.
