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Three Safety Tips For Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

The month of May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month which presents a great time to look at some safety tips for drivers to avoid a Connecticut motorcycle accident.  

Spring and summer months are prime riding time for motorcyclists and so there will be a lot of riders on the road.  Motorcycles, of course, will also be sharing the road with cars as they always do, and it is generally drivers that cause a lot of the accidents with motorcyclists on the road.  While riders certainly have a share of the blame, it is drivers who often do not have familiarity with some of the safety precautions that will keep themselves and the motorcycle riders safe on Connecticut roads.

This month you will see many articles about how to keep yourself safe on a motorcycle, but we’re going to focus on drivers of automobiles and what they can do to keep riders safe.  Even though motorcycles only make up 0.6% of all miles driven, according to the National Safety Council in 2017 they made up 14% of all traffic fatalities.

Here’s how you can do your part when driving on the road to keep yourself and those on motorcycles safe in the spring and summer months.

  1. Slow down.  Speed is one of the deciding factors in many auto and motorcycle accidents.  The faster you go, the greater your risk.  If you are speeding you are already jeopardizing yourself and you are putting others that you are sharing the road with at greater risk as well.

  2. Don’t drive distracted.  Looking down at your phone or to change the radio station even for just a second can be the equivalent of being distracted while traveling the length of a football field.  You can imagine that that is not a position you want to be in to keep those around you safe.

  3. Pay special attention to motorcycles on the road.  If you are not accustomed to sharing the road with a motorcycle, they may be difficult to spot and difficult to anticipate their movements.  Paying special attention when a motorcycle is sharing the road with you will go a long way in keeping them safe.

As more and more motorcyclists pull their bikes out of the garage and onto the road, keeping them safe and avoiding a Connecticut motorcycle accident is one of the biggest things you can do for public safety.  Following these three steps will help keep you safe.

When an accident happens you may need an attorney to review your case and look out for your long-term interests.  Contact our office and one of our attorneys may be able to help.