Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents and How to Avoid Them

In the United States, there are at least 4,000 motorcycle-related deaths every year. The latest research done by the National Traffic Safety Administration in 2013 shows that the chances of a motorcyclist perishing in a road accident are 26 times higher than that of car passengers.  Of course, motorcycle riders are more likely to be injured in contrast with car occupants since they are more exposed on the road. However, that is not enough reason not to ride a motorcycle since most accidents happen due to negligence, which can be utterly avoided. A driver’s license is essential, but any experienced motorcyclist will tell you that the real world differs from driving in school. Hence, to prevent such collisions, motorcycle beginners must know some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in the United States and how to avoid them.

Unexpected Left Turn

It is probably the most annoying scenario for a motorcyclist. A car driving in front, especially at a busy intersection, fails to notice your presence or miscalculates your speed. Because of the blind spot, the driver makes an abrupt left turn, unaware of an oncoming motorcycle. It is the most common cause of motorcycle accidents in the United States.

How to avoid it

Even though most motorcycle accidents caused by a sudden left turn is faulted at the car driver, it is possible to avert it before it happens. Do not ignore your sixth sense; always watch out for suspicious signs that indicate the driver in front may turn left abruptly. For instance, a traffic gap between an intersection should be cautiously approached. Nearby parking lots or driveways along the intersection increase the chance of another driver cutting through the open space. Hence, if things go sideways, it is safer to slow down and prepare a contingency plan, such as an escape route.

Most importantly, the wheels and not the car will hint at the most probable turn. However, do not forget to notice what is behind or at your sides. Who wants to screech the wheels to avoid colliding with a car on the front side only to be hit from the back? 

Caution: Do not lay your bike down in an emergency and slide with it like in the movies. That will land you in between the tires of an ongoing SUV, making it less likely for you to survive. On the contrary, most people who survive such collisions tend to reduce their speed using both brakes while the bike is upright.

Obstacle on a blind corner

Picture this: You are riding at a speed of 110MPH, then suddenly, while turning a corner, you hit a pothole that swallows your entire front wheel. Although you are unlikely to find such big-sized potholes in a developed country such as the United States, the pothole could be replaced by sand, leaves, gravel, dung, or even a dead animal.

How to avoid it

It is perhaps the most important rule of riding a motorcycle. Never ride into unseen/unidentified territory. Always ensure your vision corresponds with your reaction time if you approach an obstacle. Slow down while approaching a blind corner and increase the momentum after making sure it is safe. Additionally, trail braking could be used to evade the barriers on blind corners. However, it takes a lot of practice to master the skill on the track. Just enforce the front brakes, pushing the effects to the apex before changing for a throttle. After applying the brakes, the motorcycle’s weight is pushed forward; hence, applying more pressure on the front suspension and improving the size of the front contact patch will easily hold your line by the slightest brake movement.

Miscalculating a sharp corner

Although it seems evident that no experienced rider would overspeed while approaching unfamiliar territory, most beginners underestimate corner turns. Occasionally, a professional motocross rider swerves and crashes after going too fast on a corner. If you find yourself in such a situation, pray the road does not bend on some tall mountain in the middle of nowhere, or you will slide into a deep, slippery slope.

How to avoid it

Just like avoiding an obstacle on a blind corner, adjust the speed depending on your eyesight. Moreover, there are electric poles and road signs that can hint at how the road curves ahead. However, if you are going too fast on a sharp corner, do not panic, but trust your bike. The best maneuver would be leaning to one side of the motorcycle to reduce the weight and make it easier to move along the corner. However, riders should be warned that it takes a lot of error and practice before perfecting that skill. What stands out is that the brakes should not be smacked or the throttle pressed on . Trail braking can also be used in such a scenario to reduce the speed.

Overtaking/Changing Lanes

Car drivers and motorcyclists are to blame for most accidents caused by overtaking or changing lanes. A rider overtakes another car on a congested highway only to find out there is not sufficient space to squeeze in front. In another scene, a vehicle suddenly changes its lane on the road and intercepts a motorcycle without warning.

How to avoid it

Of course, you should never overtake on a roundabout, junction, hillcrest, or a bend. In addition, always make sure there is enough space if you overtake a vehicle, and you will not just wait for the car beside you to hit the brakes to create space.  The same rule should apply to those car drivers who switch lanes without warning. However, since they are not so polite or observant, motorcycle riders are urged to be extra keen on highways, especially where one side is moving faster than the other due to a traffic snarl. It is evident most cars will switch to the less congested lane. Other signs that indicate the probability of a car switching lanes include signals, wheels turning, and a driver checking the mirrors or turning a head.