Operating a motorcycle presents significant risks. Car and truck drivers are protected within their vehicles, and its stability is combined with built-in restraints, specifically seatbelts. The freedom from an enclosed transport that motorcyclists enjoy has potential costs when the most minor of collisions result in serious and potentially fatal injuries.
Statistics reveal that those who choose that form of travel as opposed to other transports are 27 times likelier to die in an accident. While motorcycle accidents can take various forms, the five most common include:
Conditions of roads
Any type of motor vehicle is susceptible to roads that are slippery due to weather conditions or poor maintenance. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to accidents when driving on loose gravel, uneven pavement, and the smallest amount of debris on the road.
Not being seen
The most common yet baffling aspect to motorcycle operation is drivers of larger motor vehicles not accounting for their presence on the road. Crashes in intersections are at the top of these types of accidents. Regardless of where it happens, not seeing them is particularly hazardous when driving at high speeds.
Turning left
More than 40 percent of motorcycle accidents occur when a car is making a left-hand turn. The simple decision to continue straight ahead, only for the vehicle to make a broad turn at the intersection. The “not being seen” conundrum applies here as well. The frequency of these accidents is similar to “car-on-car” left-turn collisions. Those involving a motorcycle see a more severe aftermath.
Inexperienced motorcyclists
A newly licensed motorcyclist fresh from the written and road tests may not be as prepared as they think, whether they secured their license or not. The reality of the wide-open road can become overwhelming. The NHTSA reports that nearly a third of all fatal crashes are ones where the driver did not have a valid license.
The skills and confidence required to operate a motorcycle safely can never be downplayed. The consequences of a crash are far too serious.