Spring is everywhere, and motorcycles are everywhere, too.
We’ve all seen them on the roads, alone or in biker groups, and as the motorcycle rally season begins, we can hear the grumbling roar of bikes coming out in droves and taking their spot in the sun.
Unfortunately, as bikers announce their ever-growing presence on the roads this spring, so the news soar with stories of motorcycle accidents, crash-related injuries, and even deaths.
As the nice weather continues, the first fatalities of spring are giving way to a rash of continuing motorcycle accidents, the latest of which claimed the life of a 20-year old NH student on Thursday afternoon.
The day before that, on May 5, there were three other motorcycle accidents in three Massachusetts neighboring towns: Rowley, Hamilton and Ipswich.
This whole week has brought news of motorcycle-related crashes, and chances are they will continue in all of May and June. One explanation for this is driver inattentiveness.
Usually, at a motorcycle accident, the car driver is at fault, mostly because they don’t expect to see motorcyclists. Most of the time, when taking turns, car drivers look for oncoming cars or trucks, not for motorcycles.
One way to help the situation is to have a few key safety tips on mind when driving a car or riding a motorcycle.
Defensive driving is the key.
If you are in a car, at crossroads, check to see if motorcyclists are coming. Just stop and look, and if they are, let motorcyclists pass, instead of trying to get in front of them.
Motorcyclists should help avoid accidents, too, by turning on their high beams, even in daylight. If drivers can see and hear you, they are less likely to drive into you. A good thing to try to remember is that “Loud Pipes Save Lives”.
