Picture of Motorcycle Enthusiast, Joshua Tullis, Mortgage Loan Officer with Bank of America
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You’ve seen the signs and stickers that read, “Look Twice, Save A Life” and “Loud Pipes Saves Lives”. These proclamations are brought to you by Motorcycle Enthusiasts and the people that love them. But, do you really know and understand what these signs mean? We have compiled a list of things cars, or as motorcycle enthusiasts refer to them as, cages should know when driving next to motorcycles.
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Share The Road! Over half of all motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. Most of the time it is the vehicle that is at fault. Although never intentional, people in cars often time do not see or hear bikes.
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You Cannot Rely On Your Mirrors! Motorcycles Are Easily Hidden In Your Blind Spot. Motorcycles have a narrow profile and are often times hidden in your blind spot. When changing lanes or turning always make sure to look and never rely solely on your mirrors.
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Look Twice, Save A Life! Motorcycles are so much smaller in size than vehicles. It is very difficult to judge the distance of a motorcycle or the rate of speed it is coming. When you are at an intersection and see a motorcycle, it is always best to let them pass before pulling out. You will be surprised how quickly they appear in front you.
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Never Follow Too Closely! It makes all motorcycle riders very nervous, even upset, when a vehicle is following too closely. Motorcyclist typically downshift or just roll off the throttle when they are coming to a stop. Often times you will not see brake lights to warn you they are coming to a stop and if you are not paying attention the consequence could be deadly. Always allow extra room between you and a motorcycle in front of you. Be cautious of keeping that same distance by adjusting your speed to the motorcycle in front of you.
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Stay In Your Lane! It is critical you stay in your lane. Despite the laws and campaigns, texting and driving is so common these days. It is especially important when you have motorcycles near you that you stay focused on driving and staying in your lane. Many times you will see motorcycles adjust positions within their lane. They are not showing off or trying to be reckless but they need to reposition themselves to avoid debris or to be seen better. Most of the time you will see motorcycles riding to the left or the right of their lane. They are not trying to be close to you this is just the safest position for them especially in inclement weather. Down the center of the lane is where cars leak oils and fluids. The center part of the lane is most slick and dangerous for motorcycles. The saying, “Loud Pipes, Saves Lives” comes from motorcycles enthusiasts specifically Harley riders, put loud pipes on their bikes to make sure you hear them in your cage (car). If you are swerving in your lane, you will hear a biker rev his engine, crack his pipes, to let you know you are making them very nervous.
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Give Them Space! You can never give a motorcycle too much space. They require a lot of maneuverability and sometimes need to change lanes quickly. In a car, when you leave the signal on you have an annoying bell or ding to remind you to turn it off. Motorcycles do not have this luxury and sometimes inadvertently leave their turn signals blinking. Always be sure the blinker is for real or if unsure just stay out of their way.
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Constantly Tapping Your Brakes Is Dangerous! Just like following too closely to a bike is dangerous, making the bike get too close to your car is too. Motorcyclists are always trying to look to 2-3 cars ahead to make sure they know what to anticipate when it comes to slowing down. If the vehicle in front of them is constantly braking this can create a deadly crash. Always maintain a constant speed and if you feel a bike is too close to the rear of your car, feel free to move over so they can pass. Regardless of who is at fault in an accident, no one wants to be part of a bad outcome.
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Never Break Up A Pack! Motorcycle enthusiast love going on long rides and especially with all their friends. Many times when you see a “pack” of motorcycles it is for a charity even called a Poker Run. Poker Runs and Fun Rides are popular in the Motorcycle community. It is important to allow them to stay in the pack. Never, ever break up a pack of motorcycles! Always allow them to pass as a group and stay to together. When they are riding as a pack, they will have Blockers, these are motorcycles that go ahead to block off intersections as the pack goes through. Please be courteous to Blockers as they are just trying to protect the pack. On a side note, when you see a Blocker post in front of an intersection, get your video ready on your phone. You are about to hear and see an American tradition roll by you. There is nothing like the sound of 20-30 bikes rolling down the road.
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See More Than The Motorcycle. The stigma of bikers is unfair. All of bikers I know are hard-working family men & women. Most of them are retired service members who enjoys the freedom of being on a bike. When you look at motorcycles, try to see the person riding the bike not just the motorcycle. They are someone’s Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister. . it could be your Doctor, your neighbor or your pastor.
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Motorcycle Wrecks Never End Well! If you get in accident with a motorcycle, the motorcycle and rider will always be the most hurt. Regardless of who is at fault for the accident, I promise it will be an image that will forever weigh on your heart. Please always go the extra mile to help keep all drivers and riders safe.
We hope you learned something new in this article and have a better understanding of motorcycles and their riders. This weekend in honor of Memorial Day is one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in our area, Rolling Thunder. To learn more about Rolling Thunder, check out our blog.
This article was written by Tiffany Cloud on behalf of the Claudia S. Nelson Real Estate Team. Claudia Nelson is the award-winning agent and #1 agent with Keller Williams Realty of Woodbridge. For all your Real Estate Needs, contact Claudia S. Nelson at 571-446-0002.
Picture Credit: Picture was taken by Tiffany Cloud.
The subject of the Picture is Joshua Tullis, a mortgage loan officer with Bank of America.
