Motorcycles and Other Vehicles

MANY associate motorcycles with freedom. After all, what better way is there to enjoy our highways than with having the wind on your face and a powerful machine under you. But riding a motorbike has its hazards ­ and it often comes from other road users.

Many motorcycle crashes involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. The vehicle driver either does not see the oncoming motorcycle at all or does not see the motorcycle in time to avoid an accident.

It must be remembered that a person driving a car and a motorcyclist, may take different actions while facing the same road situation. For instance, a car driver may ignore a piece of debris on the road but that same debris may be dangerous for a motorcyclist to hit.

Other motorists need to treat a motorcyclist as just another road user. They should see him as one having the same privileges as any other motorist. The rider must be allowed to use a full lane and not be forced to the side of the road.

Here are some tips to make you more aware of motorcyclists:

• Watch out for the signals given by motorbike riders at intersections and when they change lanes. Also clearly signal your intentions
• Remember that pieces of wood, bricks and other small debris lying on the road may not pose a danger to you, but could be deadly for a motorcyclist. So, be alert and predict possible evasive actions by the motorcyclist
• Don’t travel too closely behind a rider. Treat the motorcycle as another vehicle so you can avoid knocking into the rider in the event of your having to brake hard in an emergency

Related Topic

Some pointers for motorcyclists

back