What motorcycles offer in terms of thrill and excitement, they lose in safety and security. While riders can take all of the preventative and safety measures possible to secure themselves, it is still up to other drivers to do their part in keeping the roads safe.
Motorcyclists know what they need to do to protect themselves, so why is it that non-motorcyclist drivers have so much difficulty in avoiding cyclists.
Why do other drivers have difficulty seeing motorcycles?
There is a reason “start seeing motorcycles” bumper stickers are so popular. many drivers have a harder time spotting motorcycles compared to other cars. Bikes maneuver in different manners than cars, by being able to swap between lanes and swiftly drive between other vehicles. When drivers are not focusing on driving, they may not even be looking for smaller vehicles while they are changing lanes.
Large vehicles like 18-wheelers have massive blind-spots that drivers are barely able to spot SUVs from. When something as small as a motorcycle is in one of these blind-spots, they become next to invisible to the trucker. These bikes also fit into blind spots of other vehicles.
Beware of other drivers
Motorcyclists should never assume that other cars can see them, especially when the cyclist is making any lane change or other maneuvers. All drivers should be paying more attention to the road and their surroundings. We can all do our part in making the streets safer by taking simple actions like keeping the radio at a reasonable level, avoid being a distracted driver, and look twice before merging.
If you or a loved one has been hurt while riding, talking to a dedicated personal injury attorney (like those at Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC) can be a crucial step towards financial recovery.