Are you ready for our Freedom Ride? Things every driver should know about motorcycle safety.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle deaths are 28 times more frequent than deaths that occur in crashes with other vehicles. While motorcyclists have their own safety precautions to follow, like always wearing a helmet and staying visible, drivers of cars and trucks share the responsibility for keeping our roads accident-free and must also understand what to do in these situations. We all share the road, so we should be helping each other ensure a safe commute. In honor of motorcycle safety awareness month, and in preparation for our upcoming Freedom Ride, we’d like to share a few tips on motorcycle safety.
Check your blind spots
Motorcycles are small and can be hard to see. Sometimes, they’ll slip into your blind spot, and you won’t see them just by checking the mirrors. They can also blend into the background since they don’t stand out like other cars. Before changing lanes or merging, do a quick check to make sure you’re not missing anything.
Be sure to signal
Motorcyclists are generally defensive drivers; they watch and try to figure out what you will do next. This is necessary for them to stay safe. Help them out by signaling and letting them know where you plan to go ahead of time so that they can adjust their riding accordingly.
Allow a safe following distance
Motorcycles don’t signal the same way as cars. You won’t always see a brake light, because they can slow down by downshifting. This means that motorists need to pay closer attention to recognize when they are slowing down. It’s a good idea to stay a bit farther behind a motorcycle than you would a car, just to give yourself more time to slow down.
Your perception may be wrong
The small size of a motorcycle makes judging its speed and distance rather difficult. It can look like it’s much farther, and moving much faster than it really is. Making a wrong judgment call is a recipe for disaster, so you need to be extra careful.
Keep your emotions in check
Certain things motorcycles do, like lane splitting or shifting positions in the lane, can annoy drivers. You should know that most of the time they do these things out of necessity, not for fun. For example, if they pass you, it is likely to get out of your way, not to be rude. The smallest thing can be a hazard to motorcyclists because there is so little between them and the road, so sudden changes in speed or position are more common. Remember this, and try to be a bit more forgiving the next time you see a person on a motorcycle.
Exercise caution on left turns
Crashes that result when a left-turning car doesn’t see an oncoming motorcycle are severe and can be deadly. Unfortunately, they are one of the most common. Remember to yield to all oncoming traffic, including motorcycles, and don’t follow through with the turn before double checking it is clear to go.
Stay alert
Motorcycles have the advantage of maneuverability, but this shouldn’t be a reason for reckless driving on the motorist’s part. You can’t always assume a motorcycle will be able to get out of the way fast enough. It’s better to pay attention and take precautions to ensure both your safety and the other driver’s safety.
Increasing awareness for motorcycle safety is important. Every motorcycle isn’t just another vehicle, it’s a person, and many of those people are first responders and veterans who dedicate their lives to helping our community.
Are you coming to our July 4th Freedom Ride?
This Fourth of July, Nuvision Credit Union is hosting The Nuvision Freedom Ride. The event is our way of raising awareness, honoring, and saying thank you to the heroic men and women who respond to emergency situations with uncommon bravery. We invite you to join us and honor this country’s military and first responders as we ride throughout Orange County. To RSVP or find out more details on the motorcycle ride, Click Here.
