South Carolina Motorcyclists: Make Yourself Visible to Drivers

Motorcyclists in South Carolina and around the nation share the roads with drivers of bigger automobiles, trucks and buses, and they are in much greater danger of being injured in a crash than other drivers.

In fact, motorcycle crashes are 27 times more likely to result in a fatality than other motor vehicle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Given those statistics, it’s inherent upon motorcyclists to do all they can to make themselves visible to other drivers to try to lessen the odds of being involved in an accident. Just what can motorcyclists do to make themselves more visible or decrease their odds of being in a crash?

Start by wearing bright colors. While motorcyclists in movies and on television wear the stereotypical dark leather jacket, it’s safer to put aside the cool factor and instead wear a reflective jacket. Of course, this is just one layer of the ensemble, which must include a property fitted helmet.

Riders also must be aware of the traffic as well as their own surroundings on the street. There isn’t a lot of room in each lane of traffic, but motorcyclists want to make sure they situate themselves in the best spot to be seen. That’s believed to be the left part of the lane, where motorcycles are less likely to be in a driver’s blind spot.

And while those TV and movie motorcyclists whiz down the road, it’s safer to reduce speed to give drivers a better chance to see the bike. Motorcyclists also should constantly assess traffic and road conditions to look for the best way to escape the road, should they need to.

Motorcyclists can take all the proper precautions, but that only will reduce the chances of an accident and not eliminate them. You could encounter major medical bills and time off work. If that’s the case, you might want to consult with a legal professional to determine your next steps.