Avoiding Accidents With Motorcycles

By Author: auto.insureonline
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Those joyous Spring and Summer months! Finally, the cold wintery weather is behind us, and sunnier warmer temperatures are ahead. No one is looking forward to hitting the open road more than motorcycle enthusiasts. This means car drivers need to get accustomed to sharing the roads with them again. People driving cars and trucks often fail to notice the motorcyclists around them, partly because they're not accustomed to looking for them.

Due to its size, it can be harder to determine how close a motorcycle is and how fast it's moving. So, drivers need to exhibit extra caution when sharing the road with them. Below are three tips to help you safely share the road with motorcyclists.

Objects in mirror. The object in your mirror may be closer than it appears — especially if it's a motorcycle. When turning into traffic, always estimate a bike to be closer than it appears to avoid forcing a rider to quickly hit the brakes.

Watch those left turns. One of the most common motorcycle accidents involves a car making a left turn directly in front of a bike at an intersection. Give yourself an extra moment to look ...
... specifically for motorcycles coming toward you when turning into traffic.

Double-check your blind spot. Even though it is illegal in some states, some motorcycle drivers get into the bad habit of driving in the middle of the road between waiting cars. Carefully checking your blind spot before changing lanes is always a good idea. When it comes to motorcycles, it's critical to always use caution. A bike can be easily obscured in the blind spot, hidden behind your car’s roof pillars, or blend in with cars in other lanes, so make a habit of checking carefully before changing lanes. Plus, always use your turn signal.

Following at least three seconds behind the bike should give you enough time and space to safely slow down or stop when necessary. Obviously, motorcycles don't take up an entire lane the way cars or trucks do. Think about motorcycles. Making a habit of always checking for bikes when you drive will make the above tips second nature and make you a better driver.

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