Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Learning from Motorcycle Accident Data (Part A)
Learning from others’ errors is always preferable than recreating them. This is especially true for motorcyclists looking to stay safe while enjoying their time on the open road.
Causes for Motorcycle Accidents
Bikers can reduce the number of motorcycle accidents on Massachusetts roads and highways by learning more about the main causes of motorcycle accidents.
The 1981 Hurt Report, published by researcher Harry Hurt from the University of Southern California, is one of the most thorough studies to be conducted in the United States on the causes of motorcycle accidents.
Be Aware (and Wary) of Other Vehicle Operators
The fact is that the most serious danger for anyone on a motorcycle is the driver of the nearest vehicle.
Driver Inattention
Drivers generally don’t pay much attention to the added dangers that motorcyclists face. Of those motorcycle accidents that involve a collision with another vehicle, the majority are a result of the driver’s failure to see or acknowledge the motorcycle driving just behind or next to them.
These drivers either completely fail to see the motorcycle, or they see them once it’s too late to for either vehicle operator to execute a successful accident avoidance maneuver.
Motorcycle riders need to assume that every driver on the road is completely ignorant of their presence, and gauge their own riding accordingly. This means that motorcycle operators should implement a hyper-conservative attitude while riding on the road.
Beware of Intersections and Off-Ramps
The Hurt report also shows that there are certain places on the road where a motorcycle fatality is more likely to occur. Off-ramps and tight turns are both good examples of dangerous areas for motorcycle riders.
Extra Caution at Intersections
The most common location for motorcycle accidents however is an intersection. No other location registers as many motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles as this traffic feature, so due caution is in order whenever approaching an intersection.
Decreasing speed, flashing the headlight and, honking the horn can serve as ways to alert other vehicles that you are approaching the crossroads.
Of course, riders must also obey traffic signals and applicable laws.
Continue to Learning from Motorcycle Accident Data (Part B) >>
