Why Motorcycles Riders Face More And Severe Road Risks Than Car Drivers

30 March 2015 by Jonathan Phillips

Motorcycles face more risks on the road than four-wheeled vehicles. This leads to more accidents and severe injuries. The situation is caused by the unique risks faced by motorcycle riders such as:

Difficulties in Visual Recognition

Motorcycles are smaller than other automobiles on the road. For example, a car that is switching lanes is more likely to notice other vehicles on the road than a motorcycle rider. Matters get even more complicated for motorbikes coming in from the sides, for examples, at intersections. Other objects near or on the road can easily hide your bike from other motorists' views.

That's why you should improve your visibility by:

• Wearing bright colored jackets or vests (yellow, orange, and bright red are excellent)
• Painting your motorcycle a bright color such as red
• Sticking reflective tape on points of your bike that stick out from the body

No Barrier between Your Body and Other Hazards

One reason motorcycle riders experience more injuries than vehicle occupants is that the latter have good protection. When driving a car, you are protected by a seat-belt, airbag, and the body of the car. None of these are available for motorbike riders (airbags are being introduced for some bikes). Therefore, anything that hits the motorcycle hits you directly. You can lessen the effect of physical impact by wearing sturdy boots, strong clothing, gloves and a helmet when driving.

Less Stability

A two-wheeled automobile is less stable than a four-wheeled one. Even if you are an excellent rider, you will always be less stable on the bike than when driving a car. You can feel the instability when braking, swerving or cornering.

Apart from this inherent instability, other road hazards also affect you more than it does car drivers. Debris (such as sand) on the road, wetness or even uneven road surfaces do not trouble cars as much as they affect motorcycles.

The best way to deal with this reduced stability is to improve your riding skills, especially on different surfaces. Avoid high-risk riding behaviors such as super-fast acceleration and cornering at high speeds. It is also wise to avoid riding when the roads are treachery, for example, after a rainfall.

Accidents may still happen despite taking all the precautions. If you are involved in one, then you should behave just as you would in any other automobile accident. This means getting contacts of the other parties invade in the accident, seeking medical treatment, contacting your insurer and consulting an attorney. For more information, visit http://brynnlaw.com/ or a similar website.

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