During May, non-profit organizations and local public safety organizations run advertisements or start social media campaigns intended to promote motorcycle safety.
As more riders get back out on the road in late spring and early summer, the risk of motorcycle collisions increases. Drivers in four-wheel vehicles may not be at especially high risk of severe injury in such cases, but they face financial liability and a lifetime of guilt if they cause the devastating or deadly crash.
How can drivers observe National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in a manner that has a practical impact?
Observe the ‘look twice, save a life’ rule
One of the most common awareness campaigns related to motorcycle collisions is the widespread “look twice, save a life” campaign. Billboards, broadcast media advertisements and sometimes even yard signs remind drivers of the importance of checking for motorcycles in traffic.
Even the most fastidious driver could overlook a motorcycle due to how the brain works when managing too much incoming visual information. People overlook details that don’t seem important for their safety due to their brains prioritizing visual elements that appear to be dangerous instead.
A motorcycle poses substantially less threat to a driver in a sedan than an SUV or a semi-truck, which makes it easy to overlook a motorcycle in traffic. People who intentionally double check for motorcycles are more likely to cognitively recognize two-wheeled vehicles at intersections or when preparing to conduct a maneuver in traffic.
Drivers can reduce their risk of causing a crash by operating under the assumption that a motorcycle is closer or approaching more rapidly than they can visually estimate. They can also intentionally maintain additional space when close to a motorcycle in traffic or at an intersection.
For motorcycle riders, prioritizing visibility is helpful. Safety experts also recommend that motorcycle riders pretend they are invisible to avoid scenarios where they have the right of way but a driver who didn’t notice them causes a crash.
Those involved in motorcycle collisions may need help dealing with the aftermath of their crash. Consulting with an attorney can help injured motorcycle riders understand their rights and seek compensation for collision-related losses when drivers don’t comply with best safety practices.
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