Because we share the road with so many vehicles and a variety of different types of vehicles present different safety challenges, it is important that all of us work together to keep our neighbors safe. This is particularly true as cars are sharing the road with motorcycles more and more and while safety measures should be taken by the motorcyclists, there are also some things that drivers of cars can do to help prevent a Connecticut motorcycle accident.
Before you start to worry about the safety of motorcycle riders you need to make sure you are keeping your safety at the forefront of your mind. You should always be wearing a seatbelt when you are driving and you should avoid traveling over the speed limit as speeding tends to increase the risk and severity of accidents. You should also make sure you are avoiding distractions while you’re driving and keep from driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. All of these things can help keep you safe while you're behind the wheel and are of the utmost importance to remember before you start worrying about how you can keep others safe.
With that being said, you are sharing the road with other types of vehicles and there are some things you can do to help keep yourself and motorcycle riders in particular safe while they are on the road as well. Here are a few steps you can take to keep everyone free from accidents and injuries while you’re sharing the road;
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Understand the various times of day and week that motorcyclists are more likely to be on the road. For instance, weekends are a much more heavily trafficked time for motorcycles to be on the road than during the week. This is because many riders like to head out for leisure, while during the week they may take a car for commuting and other purposes.
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Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and a motorcycle in front of you. You should leave at least 3-4 seconds of space between you and the rider in front of you so if a short-stop is needed you have the time to safely engage your brakes and not rear-end a motorcyclist who is driving in front of you.
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Do not try to share a lane with a motorcycle. While some motorcyclists like to maneuver in and out of traffic, which is a very dangerous practice, you should never share a lane with a motorcycle under any circumstances. Traffic lanes are made for one vehicle at a time and when you start to share lanes there are many opportunities for accidents to happen without any malice on the part of either driver.
When you’re driving there are a lot of things to think about and helping to prevent a Connecticut motorcycle accident may not be at the top of your list, but it should be something you are aware of so you can work to keep yourself and your neighbors safe while on the road. If you make safety a habit while you’re driving it will be second nature and it will not require you to do much additional thinking while you’re driving. It is important to know what safety measures make a difference and follow them so you and everyone else you are sharing the road with remain safe and make it to their destination without incident.
If you do get injured as the result of an accident you may need to speak with an attorney. Our attorneys have experience with a wide variety of situations and can work with you to understand what happened in your situation. Contact our office and one of our attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.
