Suburban Pennsylvania roads are known for their heavy traffic at practically all times of day. If you are riding a motorcycle during congestion, you need to take extra safety measures to stay safe. You cannot always control what other drivers do, so you must always ride defensively. If you have been involved in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Here are some safety tips when riding a motorcycle in heavy traffic.
Remain Visible to Drivers at All Times
One of the reasons it is so dangerous to be a motorcyclist is that drivers cannot always see you. A biker is not always at the motorist’s eye level, which can result in accidents. Do everything that you can to remain visible to other drivers in heavy traffic. You can accomplish some of that through the safety gear that you use. It may be helpful to wear bright colors to make you more visible to other drivers.
Ride Defensively at All Times
Heavy traffic happens, and you need to accept the fact that you will not be going anywhere fast. The best thing to do is to focus on how you will make it through the situation. If you try to ride too aggressively, you will lose focus on your safety. Defensive riding means following all traffic rules, including a lane-splitting prohibition. You will need to exercise as much patience as possible while you are riding in heavy traffic.
Scan Your Surroundings at All Times
Defensive riding is also about being aware of potential hazards that can impact you. When you are in heavy traffic, you are traveling at a slower speed, and you have more of an ability to see potential problem areas around you on the road. Always be aware of your surroundings, and continuously scan for dangers that you need to avoid. While you may not be able to elude every possible hazard, you can also be proactive and do your best to keep away from other drivers who may not be as safe, such as by staying out of the proximity of larger trucks.
Try to Stay Out of the Driver’s Blind Spots
Although the driver must check their blind spots and see a motorcyclist, you should do everything you can to make it easy for them. Your placement in your lane is essential to other drivers seeing you. Try to stay on the right side of your lane whenever possible because it is easier for other drivers to notice you. The rule of thumb is that if you cannot see the other driver, chances are that they cannot see you. Do not count on them making the extra effort to notice that you are close to them on the road.
Always Make Sure to Have an Escape Route
Since other drivers may not always be able to notice you, it is vital that you can plan a route of escape in any dangerous situation. Usually, you should try to ride near a shoulder in heavy traffic so you can pull off the road quickly in the face of any oncoming danger. If you are closed off from any escape routes, you cannot elude any drivers who do not see you. Try not to place yourself in a situation where you are blocked off from any potential escape route.
Contact a Montgomery County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer at Bikers Have Rights
When you have been injured in a crash, a Montgomery County motorcycle accident lawyer at Bikers Have Rights is in your corner. All you need to do is message us online or call us today at 215-525-1616 or 877-333-0300 to schedule a free initial consultation. Our office is in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, and we serve injured motorcyclists in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.