As we move into spring and summer, the weather is nice enough for bikers in Cranston to start riding their motorcycles on a regular basis. This means motorists will be sharing the road with more motorcyclists, increasing the chance of a collision between these two vehicles.
Collisions between motorcyclists and other vehicles happen for many reasons, one of which is distracted driving. Sadly, a distracted driving motorcycle accident can end in tragedy. It is estimated that 14% of all fatal traffic accidents in the United States in 2020 involved a motorcyclist.
For this reason, Rhode Island has dedicated May as “Motorcycle Awareness Month,” and a time when motorists are reminded to keep motorcyclists safe by avoiding distracted driving.
Motorcycle awareness
Sometimes it is challenging for motorists to spot motorcyclists on the road. Motorcycles are smaller vehicles, and they are not always seen by motorists, especially if they are in a motorist’s blind spot. This is especially true if the motorist drives a higher profile vehicle, such as an SUV, a pickup truck, a box truck or a semi-truck.
It is important for motorists to be aware of their surroundings while driving, so they can see if they are sharing the road with a motorcyclist. A motorist who is distracted is not paying attention to the task of driving, and they might not notice a motorcycle until it is too late, and a collision occurs.
A motorcyclist can play their part in safely sharing the road with motorists by wearing reflective clothing, avoiding speeding and avoiding riding after consuming alcohol.
However, motorists should put their cellphones away, avoid daydreaming, wait until they get to their destination to eat and otherwise avoid any activities that could take their hands off the wheel, their eyes off the road or their attention off the task of driving.
By exercising awareness, motorists are more likely to notice motorcyclists sharing the road and can avoid causing a motorcycle accident.