No matter how careful you are on the road while riding your motorcycle, you have no control over the actions of other motorists. Even the slightest mistakes among this group can lead to serious consequences for you.
Motorcyclists pay a high price when involved in a road collision. Their vehicles are much smaller than the cars, pickups, SUVs and big-rig trucks they share the roads with. A serious injury is likely, and death a possibility. A number of those injuries and fatalities among motorcyclists can be attributed to the mistakes made by other motorists.
A total of 170 motorcyclists died in Georgia in 2019
In 2019, an estimated 84,000 motorcyclists were injured on U.S. roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition, more than 5,000 motorcyclists died that same year, accounting for 14% of U.S. traffic fatalities.
Motorcyclists have long been a common site on Georgia roads, and the state has seen its share of fatalities. Georgia recorded 170 motorcyclist deaths in 2019, the NHTSA reported. The state ranked seventh in the country behind Florida (591); California (474); Texas (416); North Carolina (208); Pennsylvania (176); and Arizona (175).
Three common mistakes
Many of these accidents happened because of mistakes made by other drivers. Here are some of the most common mistakes:
- Making a left turn in front of a motorcycle: Drivers often do not initially see a motorcycle traveling toward them or sometimes just misjudge the distance between the two of them. Or they misjudge the speed of the motorcycle. The result: a potentially serious accident. The NHTSA reported that 34% of all motorcycle-related fatalities took place at intersections.
- Changing lanes and veering into the path of a motorcycle: Car drivers, sometimes, fail to perform one of the most basic things they learned: checking for blind spots. Obscured vision requires drivers to take precautions. Also, distracted and inattentive driving are possible.
- Failing to stop and colliding with the rear of a motorcycle: Once again, these collisions often occur at intersections when a motorcycle stops in traffic. A vehicle coming from behind may smash into the rear of a motorcycle, leading to potentially serious injuries.
Too often, we learn about preventable road accidents involving motorcyclists. Other drivers must continue to be aware of a motorcycle’s presence and subscribe to defensive and alert driving practices. Motorcyclists throughout the U.S. and Georgia will be safer as a result.
