A Closer Look At The Rising Number Of Motorcycle Accidents

Maryland drivers who choose to ride a motorcycle know that it comes at a higher risk compared a car. While motorcycles only made up 3% of all the registered vehicles throughout the country, they accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2017. It’s plain to see that riding a motorcycle can be risky.

A LOOK AT ACCIDENTS

Back in 2017, there were a total of 5,172 motorcycle deaths in the United States. It’s more important than ever before for all drivers on the roadway to understand the common reasons for motorcycle accidents and what they can do to help prevent them from happening in the first place.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revealed that the majority of motorcycle accidents are typically not the fault of the motorcycle driver. Rather, these accidents tend to be the fault of automobile drivers. The typical reason is that the car driver was unable to see the motorcyclist.

PREVENTION TIPS

In order to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle that happen each year, both automobile drivers and motorcycle riders need to work together. Automobile drivers need to consistently remind themselves that they’re sharing the roadway with motorcycles. When taking turns across traffic, it’s important for drivers to always double-check to ensure that they didn’t miss a motorcycle coming down the roadway toward them.

In addition, it’s helpful for motorcycle riders to make themselves more visible to automobile drivers. Wearing bright-colored clothing and riding with the headlight on even in the daylight hours can allow for better visibility.

Unfortunately, the number of motorcycle accidents continues to increase as the years go by. By understanding the common causes of these accidents, both motorcycle riders and automobile drivers can work together to prevent accidents from happening.