If you are a motorcycle rider, you already know just how exhilarating the experience can be. When riding a motorcycle, you feel the road in a way that simply isn’t possible in a passenger car. You also get a great view of the world around you, and there is a wonderful sense of connection between yourself and the bike.
With all of that said, there is no debating the fact that riding a motorcycle is a dangerous activity. Without the security of a car around you, even a relatively minor accident can lead to serious injury – or even death. Quite obviously, you need to be diligent when on the roads in order to avoid a motorcycle accident and keep yourself safe.
In this two-part article, we are going to highlight some common types of motorcycle accidents. If you are aware of the different ways a motorcycle crash can develop, you will be better able to watch for trouble and remain out of harm’s way.
Lane Switching Crash
It can be difficult for cars to see motorcycles when they are traveling side-by-side on a four-lane road. If the driver of a car or truck does not do a good enough job of checking their blind spot before moving over, a crash could occur. While it would be great if all the other drivers on the road were paying proper attention, that is not always going to be the case. So, as a motorcycle rider, you can do your part to stay safe by trying to avoid the blind spot of other cars whenever possible. Try to avoid traveling alongside a car at the same speed – the driver may not know you are there, or may forget. By speeding up or slowing down just a bit, you can get out of the blind spot and reduce the chance of a crash.
Head-On Collision
You don’t need to be a motorcycle owner to know that a head-on collision between a car and a motorcycle is unlikely to end well for the motorcycle rider. The rider is going to be in grave danger in this situation, as either the impact of hitting the car or the ground could be enough to provide fatal injuries. One big step you can take to avoid a head-on collision is simply to pay attention to traffic coming the other way. If riding on a two-lane road, keep your eyes up and watch traffic as it moves along. If any vehicle appears to be drifting into your lane, slow down and attempt to move your bike out of the way. In extreme situations, you may even be able to drive off the road (provided there is room) in order to avoid the other vehicle.
There isn’t anything you can do to take all of the risks of motorcycle riding out of the equation, but getting into good habits can improve your chances of avoiding an incident. In the second part of this article, we will highlight more types of accidents and how they can be avoided.
