Motorcyclists Face Dangers On The Roads

If you’re a motorcyclist and are lucky enough to of missed a running with a pothole, you are the minority. Potholes pose a greater hazard to motorcyclists than to any other road-using group. The chances are that even those riders who do not suffer personal injury in motorcycle accidents caused by potholes will have plenty of experience of pothole-related near misses.

Hit or Miss?

Motorcyclists face many threats on the roads, one of the biggest hazards that they face is from car drivers who fail to see bikes coming towards them. 43% of all motorcycle accidents occur as a result of an oncoming vehicle turning across the path of a rider. Drivers simply fail to recognize the motorcyclist's right of way.

Research has shown that the single largest cause of motorcycle collisions across the country is driver behaviour at junctions. Nearly 40 per cent of collisions involve right of way violations, of which less than 20 per cent are fully or partly the fault of the motorcyclist. Around two thirds are caused by car drivers failing to see a motorcyclist who should be clearly visible.

There are a lot more cars, vans and trucks on the road than there are motorcycles, yet those riding bike are 40 times more likely to be killed than someone driving a car. A motorbike can look like it’s further away than it actually is - this is because they are so small. It can therefore be hard to judge the speed, and sneak up on unsuspecting motorists quicker than expected.

Bikes can manoeuvre well at slower speeds and with good road conditions - but you shouldn't expect a motorcyclist to be able to dodge out of the way at the drop of a hat, or the swerve of a car. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) explained that the problem is most severe at junctions, where many collisions between bikes and cars occur.

Motorcycle Safety:

Motorcycling is an increasingly popular form of transport. However, motorcyclists are also one of the most vulnerable road users. Despite forming only 1% of road traffic, motorcyclists account for 20% of road deaths and serious injuries.

Almost 72% of motorcyclist casualties occur on built-up roads (roads with a speed limit of up to 40 mph), even though such roads carry less than half of motorcycle traffic. However, 59% of motorcyclist deaths occur on non built-up roads, 38% on built-up roads and 2.5% on motorways.

However the reverse is true for moped users, with 64% of moped deaths occurring on built-up roads and 36% on non-built-up roads. Also the overall fatality rate for motorcyclists is much higher on rural roads than on urban roads. 

Most motorcycle accidents involve a collision with another vehicle, usually with a car. Although, there is much that motorcyclists can do to avoid such collisions, the behaviour of drivers is equally crucial. There are many accidents in which the motorcyclist is using the road responsibly and safely, but is put at risk because a driver fails to do the same. Drivers need to be aware of the characteristics, needs and vulnerability of motorcyclists.