Motorcyclists understand that they must remain vigilant anytime they journey out on the road. Among the dangers they must look out for include motor vehicle drivers.
A crash may occur at a moment’s notice, leading to debilitating injuries more than likely to a motorcyclist and his or her passenger. These collisions occur due to avoidable mistakes made by other drivers.
Swerving into the path
Here are some common mistakes motor vehicle drivers make that lead to crashes with motorcyclists:
- Left turns made in front of a motorcycle: This often happens because car drivers are unaware when turning at intersections. They either fail to see the motorcyclist heading in their direction, miscalculate the distance between their car and the oncoming motorcycle or misjudge the speed of the bike. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 34% of motorcycle fatalities occurred at intersections in 2019.
- Swerving into the path of a motorcycle while changing lanes: The phrase “mirror, blinker, blind spot” is one beginning drivers learn when changing lanes. Adhering to it is a must. However, sometimes, drivers with obscured vision fail to check their blind spots, leading to collisions with motorcycles. Such crashes also happen when a driver is distracted or fails to pay attention.
- Striking a motorcycle from behind: This may happen if the driver fails to notice early enough that the motorcyclist stopped at a stop sign, intersection or crosswalk. What may be a fender bender in most cases may prove fatal for a motorcyclist. These crashes may even occur at a high rate of speed.
Such examples represent clear negligence from car and truck drivers. Their actions may cause crashes that lead to serious, life-changing and fatal injuries.
Alertness is crucial for any motorcyclist. Other drivers must be alert, too. Any misstep the latter group makes can lead to tragedy or a lifetime of disabilities and months of rehabilitation for a motorcyclist.