Motorcycles are a common sight in Mississippi. Especially during the summer months, there are many people on the roads enjoying two-wheeled transportation. Some people even continue riding throughout the year.
Most motorcycle riders make their safety a top priority on the roads. They are proactive about properly maintaining and repairing their motorcycles. They wear appropriate safety gear, including the helmet required by state law. They likely also do their best to follow traffic rules. Despite all of those efforts, motorcycle crashes are somewhat common. The following are some of the leading causes of motorcycle collisions in the state.
Faulty driver surveillance
Perhaps the most common reason drivers give for causing a motorcycle crash is that they didn’t see the motorcycle. When the brain has too much incoming visual information, it prioritizes what seems to be safety critical. Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, which means that drivers might not notice them in traffic. No matter how visible a motorcycle rider tries to be, they cannot force drivers to focus on them.
Excessive speed
Some motorcycle riders really enjoy opening up their bikes to see what they can do. There is a profound exhilaration that comes from traveling at high speeds on a motorcycle. However, higher speeds mean longer stopping distances and a greater risk of losing control. Motorcycle riders aren’t the only ones who cause crashes by speeding. Those in four-wheeled vehicles often exceed the speed limit and can have a hard time stopping the time when they encounter a motorcycle in traffic.
Alcohol impairment
Technically, anyone old enough to legally drink who operates a motor vehicle is subject to the same basic blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08%. Plenty of people fail to recognize when they have had too much to drink and may try to drive home while under the influence. Both impaired motorcycle riders and impaired drivers can cause crashes that have dire consequences for the motorcycle rider. Many other traffic safety concerns, including distraction, can contribute to motorcycle crash risk.
Learning about and avoiding common risk factors can make a major difference for those who want to stay safe on their next ride. Nevertheless, collisions may happen despite a rider’s best efforts. When a motorcycle rider is not the party at fault for a motorcycle crash, they may have grounds to seek compensation from those who caused their harm.