Now that the weather is warming up, you can expect to encounter unique summer hazards on the road. For one, you will likely be sharing the road with more motorcyclists. Learning how to drive safely and defensively around bikers is crucial for avoiding accidents. Driving near a motorcycle is far different than driving with other passenger cars.
Motorcycles are high-risk vehicles and colliding with them can easily result in fatalities. Consider the following suggestions to keep yourself and motorcyclists safe from harm.
Be conscious about looking for them
You usually do not need to think twice about noticing other cars. But motorcycles are a different story. These tiny and agile vehicles are hard to notice. It may be tricky to always see motorcycles, especially with thrill-seeking riders. But making a conscious note that you will likely encounter motorcycles on the road will help you be more aware.
Making a habit of double-checking
Motorcycles can easily hide in your blind spots. Make sure you are consistently checking your blind spots and mirrors before changing lanes or turning. A casual glance may not be enough to see a biker. Be vigilant and watchful because you never know when a minor maneuver may result in a crash.
Increase your following distance
If a motorcycle is in front of you, stay back. You should be farther behind motorcycles than cars because motorcycles can stop much more quickly than other vehicles. This gives you more time to stop when you see the motorcycle start to brake.
Do not trust motorcycle turn signals right away
Just because a motorcyclist has a turn signal on does not necessarily mean he or she is about to turn or change lanes. Most signals on bikes are not self-canceling. The motorcyclist usually needs to manually turn the blinker off, which can be easy to forget. Wait to see what the biker will actually do.
