Motorcycle Awareness Safety Month: Protecting Yourself Over Bike Week
The month of May brings an influx of tourists throughout South Carolina, many of which end up passing through the Aiken area. Among the first to appear in anticipation of the summer season are motorcyclists, many of them headed to major rallies along the coast. May has been designated as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, with events going on throughout the country. It seems particularly fitting here to take the time to review how motorcycle accidents commonly occur and the steps you can take to protect yourself.
Preventing Motorcycle Accidents & Injuries
According to statistics from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), more than 100 motorcyclists are killed each year in crashes and collisions throughout the state. Thousands more suffer potentially serious and debilitating injuries that might have been prevented had riders followed a few simple precautions:
Make sure the bike you’re riding is the proper size and regularly maintained
Wear the appropriate safety gear, including long pants, boots, gloves, and a helmet
Give other motorists and bikers plenty of space on the road, which will better enable you to respond to sudden changes
Be aware of road conditions and how they can impact your motorcycle’s handling
Avoid reckless behaviors, such as speeding, riding distracted, doubling up in lanes, and riding under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicating substance
If you are new to riding a motorcycle or do not ride regularly, invest the time in taking a motorcycle safety course. This can help make you a better driver, could lower your insurance premiums, and can protect you and others on the road.
Be Aware of Motorcyclists
Part of the goal of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is to inform others on the road about the special risks motorcyclists face. In collisions with motor vehicles, motorcycles offer little in the way of protection and the injuries bikers suffer tend to be severe. In anticipation of local motorcycle rallies and the influx of bikers these events will bring to our area, review the following safety tips for sharing the road from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Respect the rights of bikers when you encounter them in traffic
Avoid aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating and improper passing
Always check your blind spots before changing lanes or making turns, where bikers may be out of view
Watch your speed and signal in advance when making stops or turns
Give motorcyclists plenty of space if you are beside them on narrow, curving roads
Use extra caution at night, when bikers may be harder to spot
Avoid driving under the influence, disregarding traffic signals, driving distracted, and other behaviors which put you and others at risk
Let Us Help You with Your Case
When motorcycle accidents leave you or a loved one with serious injuries, the Surasky Law Firm, LLC is here to help you get the compensation you need to recover. Contact us today to request a consultation.
