Protections for motorcycle riders on the roads and beyond

As the weather warms and improves and more motorcyclists head out onto Alabama roads to enjoy the good weather, it is important to keep motorcycle safety and protections in mind. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which means there is not better time to review how drivers can help keep motorcycle riders safe on the roadways.

Motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable on the roadways and are 5 times more likely to be injured and 29 times more likely to be killed than those in passenger vehicles to be harmed in a motorcycle accident. Motorists should be vigilant about the safety of motorcyclists and take precautions to ensure motorcycle riders are kept safe on the roadways.

Precautions that drivers can take to help keep motorcyclists safe include being additionally cautious on weekends when there are more motorcyclists on the roadways; making sure to allow motorcyclist adequate space to maneuver and extra space to maneuver in areas where there are potholes, transitions in the pavement and railroad crossings; never attempting to share a lane with a motorcycle; checking blind spots for motorcycles; not driving impaired or distracted ;and always being attentive for motorcycles that are smaller visual targets and easier to miss when a driver is being inattentive.

It is not uncommon for careless drivers to fail to see a motorcyclist and cut them off and cause an accident. As a result, motorcycle accident victims should be familiar with personal injury protections that can help with their physical, financial and emotional damages.