Warmer, sunny weather tends to mean more motorcyclists on the road. Unfortunately, there also tend to be more motorcycle wrecks during the summer months. This is partly due to the increased number of bikers on the roads. That said, there are some things that can help make the roads safer for motorcyclists, so we put together this post with a few of those tips. Please consider sharing this post with friends, family, or on social media. It just might save the life of a motorcyclist you know or care about.
TIP #1
Did you know that grass clippings on roadways present a hazard for motorcyclists? Grass carries a lot of moisture which can make roads more slippery when they’re covered in grass clippings. Additionally, a layer of grass between the tires of a motorcycle and the roadway causes the motorcycle to lose some traction which can also be dangerous to bikers.
To help make the roads safer for motorcyclists, when you mow your yard, make sure the grass clippings do not end up on the highway. You can position your mower so that the clippings blow back into your yard instead of on the road, or you can attach a bag to the back of your mower and collect the grass clippings as you mow.
TIP #2
You may have seen signs that say, “Look twice, save a life”. These signs are intended to remind car and truck drivers to be on the lookout for motorcycles. Because motorcycles are so much smaller than cars and trucks, and because they are less common, car and truck drivers sometimes do not anticipate there being a motorcycle on the road and therefore do not see or notice the motorcycle until it’s too late.
Car and truck drivers should stop, pause, and look twice when:
- Proceeding into or through an intersection
- Merging onto a highway
- Changing lanes
- Making a turn in an intersection
- Proceeding on the road after stopping at a stop sign or four-way stop
- Pulling out of a driveway onto a highway
- And many more!
TIP #3
Motorcyclists are often thinking about the usual rules of the road PLUS things that car and truck drivers barely even notice. For example, grass clippings (see tip #1 above!) in the road or a pothole tend to be a much bigger deal for motorcycles than cars and trucks. To help keep motorcyclists safe, make sure you are obeying all the rules of the road. This includes using turn signals, turning on your turn signals early enough to provide sufficient notice to those around you, using your headlights in the rain or when there is lower light outside, making sure your vehicle’s lights are all working, and making sure your tires are in good condition to help you stop quickly if needed and better prevent tire blowouts and hydroplaning.
Conclusion
Because motorcycles are so much smaller than cars and trucks and provide less protection, when a car or truck hits a motorcycle, the injuries to the biker tend to be severe. At Burton Law Firm, we too often see motorcycle wrecks that could have been avoided, so we hope the above tips are helpful. If you have questions or ever need to speak with one of our motorcycle injury attorneys, just give us a call at (833) 623-0042. Safe travels!