While there’s no doubt a certain thrill that only comes from riding a motorcycle, Georgetown motorcyclists should also understand the increased risks that they face from this activity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over 80 percent of cases involving a motorcycle accident end with either an injury or a fatality. Thus, if you choose to travel on a motorcycle, accident avoidance should always be at the forefront of your mind. After all, your first motorcycle accident could very well end up being your last.
Among the more common type of motorcycle accidents are sudden-stop collisions. These occur when the vehicle traveling directly in front of the motorcyclist abruptly stops for an unexpected reason. When this happens between two cars, the result is often a simple rear-end collision that may result in a few damages and little to no injuries. However, when a motorcycle is involved, the momentum of the motorcyclist going forward will often continue once he or she is stopped, throwing him or her onto the ground or into the stopped vehicle.
Given the added potential for injury in these types of accidents, you should follow these simple practices to avoid sudden-stop collisions while on your motorcycle:
- Allow for adequate space between you and the vehicle in front of you to maneuver or stop should that vehicle come to a sudden halt
- Position your bike to either side of the vehicle so that you could easily go around it should it stop
- Reduce your own speed every time the drivers in front of your reduce theirs
While practicing defensive motorcycle driving offers no guarantee that you won’t get in an accident, it can help you to avoid certain scenarios that could potentially result in a motorcycle injury.