Minnesota motorcycle riders enjoy the freedom of the open road during the warm spring and summer months. However, every time they get behind the handlebars, they’re putting themselves at risk of being involved in an accident. To help reduce your risk of being involved in an accident, it’s essential to understand the most common dangers to motorcycle drivers.
Oncoming traffic
A quick look at various motorcycle accidents reveals that the most common accident between a motorcycle and a car happens when a car is making a left hand turn into oncoming traffic. Many of these drivers say that they did not see the motorcycle coming down the road when they went to make the turn. As a motorcycle driver, you can use this information to your advantage to help prevent running into a vehicle that is turning into your lane. Anytime you come upon an intersection, you should slow down and check to see if anyone is trying to make a left-hand turn.
Try to stay out of blind spots
Most of us are familiar with the fact that vehicles have blind spots on both sides. When you’re on a motorcycle, it’s best to try to stay out of these blind spots. When you’re driving next to vehicles on the roadway, always try to stay either in front of them or trailing behind them so that the driver can see you. Try to avoid riding right next to a vehicle for long periods of time, as you’ll likely be in their blind spot.
Being on a motorcycle can be a great experience to get out on the open road and feel the wind against your face. However, it can be quite dangerous. For this reason, it’s important that you take some necessary precautions to help reduce your risk of being involved in an accident.