With warm weather around the corner, more motorcyclists will hit the road. As a motorcyclist, you probably already understand why you must be more hypervigilant on the roadways than other drivers. Passenger vehicles are a more significant threat to motorcycles than motorcycles are to them.
In an accident, you are more likely to face catastrophic injuries than the other driver. Despite driving in plain sight, you may hear other drivers say they never saw you coming.
Why do drivers have difficulty seeing motorcycles?
Motorcycles do have a narrow profile compared to other vehicles. Generally, a driver will say that the bike drifted into his or her blind spot or other aspects of traffic blocked his or her view. For example, heavy traffic, road work, rain and sun glare may all become excuses for missing motorcycles.
When you drive, your brain takes in a lot of information. To save energy, your mind may fill in the blanks of what you see and cause you to miss something in plain sight.
How can motorcyclists increase their visibility?
Just because a driver claims that he or she did not see you does not mean that he or she does not have accountability for your accident. All drivers must protect one another’s safety by paying attention to their surroundings. To protect yourself, wear visible clothing and ensure that you have adequate lighting and reflectors on your motorcycle. If you remain careful around a passenger vehicle’s blind spots, you have a lower risk of an accident.
As a motorcyclist, always exercise caution when you encounter low visibility conditions.
