Most Atlanta drivers do what they can to keep themselves and others safe on the road. But due to lack of experience or negligence, many motorists on the roads at this moment are at risk of hitting a motorcycle and causing serious harm to the rider.
For people who do not know how to drive safely around motorcycles and those who could use a quick refresher, here are four tips for reducing the risk of causing a motorcycle accident.
- Give motorcycles plenty of space. It is easy to misjudge how close you are to a motorcycle and how fast they are going. Tailgating a bike can easily lead to a serious rear-end crash. Be especially careful when it’s raining.
- When parked on a busy street, avoid “dooring” a passing rider by looking over your shoulder before opening your door.
- Keep your radio at a reasonable volume. You might hear an approaching motorcycle before you see it.
- Slow down at intersections. These are one of the most likely places for a four-wheeled vehicle to crash into a motorcycle.
Atlanta riders do what they can to protect themselves. But there might not be anything they can do when a car, truck or SUV turns left into their path, runs a red light, or otherwise acts with negligent disregard to the rider’s safety. A helmet and padded motorcycle jacket may help somewhat but give the rider little protection against a multi-ton motor vehicle hitting them at city or highway speeds. The unfortunate result can be a brain injury, paralysis, and, in the worst cases, death.
