773-365-0040
Did you know that over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle? Unfortunately, most of time, the car or truck driver and not the motorcyclist, is at fault. This may be due to the fact that there are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t recognize a motorcycle or ignore it unintentionally.
Road safety should be a top priority when it comes to sharing the road with motorcycles, especially during the riding seasons of spring, summer, and fall. Here are a few tips that all drivers should know about motorcycles:
- Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles when you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections. Motorcycles have a narrow profile and can easily be hidden in a car’s blind spot or camouflaged by objects in the background such as shadows, bushes, or fences.
- Increase your following distance to 4 seconds when driving behind a motorcycle. Motorcyclists often slow down by downshifting or letting off the throttle, which will not activate the brake light.
- Predict that an approaching motorcycle is closer than you think. Because of its small size, it may be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed.
- Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind.
- Use the SEE method. Search. Evaluate. Execute. Search means to actively scan and identify factors that could create high risk. Evaluate means to consider potential problems of such risks. Execute refers to the physical motor skills used to prevent or avoid an accident.
We hope that all drivers find these tips helpful and will utilize them in order to make sharing the road with motorcyclists a safe and successful strategy. The Chicago personal injury lawyers at Shea Law Group have handled many cases on behalf of hundreds of clients throughout Chicago and understand the impact a serious injury can have on an individual and family. If you need to contact Shea Law Group, please call 1-877-365-0040 or contact us online.
