This is a guest post by Bridget Knapp
Although using a motorbike can be a fun and exhilarating way to travel, especially for young men, there is no escaping the fact that it is the single most dangerous way to travel that there is. Motorbike accidents kill more people every year in the UK, and indeed in numerous other places in the world, than any other type of transport.
Largely this danger is due to the fact that a lot of the time cars cannot see bikes as they approach, especially if the car in question is pulling out of a junction and there are other cars parked on the sides of the road. The risk is increased at night, when the very large majority of bike accidents happen. This is because visibility is reduced even further.
Accidents also very frequently occur because bikes are much smaller than other vehicles, and can become invisible in some cases. An example of this is when a bike is amongst cars, or possibly if the driver is approaching behind a very large and obstructive vehicle such as a lorry. The drivers of motorbikes should be aware of this danger, and seek to make sure they are visible at all times.
The statistics for this kind of accident are quite scary, when they are broken down. Out of all traffic accident claims involving motorbikes, on average 75% of these were because the bike has collided with another vehicle on the road. Of this 75%, a huge 65% were because the oncoming driver that was also involved in the collision could not see the bike approaching because of poor visibility.
The best way to avoid such accidents is to take some simple safety precautions, which when used correctly could ultimately save lives. One tip is to wear reflective clothing when riding a motorbike at night, because this will make it much easier for other car drivers to be able to see when a bike is approaching them.
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Bridget Knapp is a freelance writer concerned mainly with road safety and taking good care of her motorbike.
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