As any avid motorcyclist knows, safety is a non-negotiable when riding on public roads. Part of ensuring safety involves educating others about hazards that disproportionately endanger riders, such as unlawful passing by careless drivers.
By increasing awareness of this issue, we can reduce risks and help protect fellow riders from harm. This article covers what unlawful passing entails, why it poses such a threat to motorcyclists, and steps we can all take to foster safer roads and stronger roadway protections.
The Dangers of Unlawful Passing
Unlawful passing refers to maneuvers like switching lanes unsafely or zooming past stopped vehicles without regard for traffic laws. Unfortunately, these risky decisions frequently put motorcycle riders in harm’s way.
Due to their smaller size compared to cars, motorcycles are much harder for drivers to see in Mirrors or peripheral vision. As a result, unlawful passes often leave riders with insufficient time and space to react when vehicles unexpectedly merge or swerve near them.
Even a minor collision can prove catastrophic for motorcyclists lacking a steel cage’s protection. Additionally, blind spots from large vehicles make surprise lane changes particularly perilous. With little room for error, unlawful passing endangers lives and may require working with motorcycle unlawful passing accident lawyers.
The Threat of Unlawful Passing Accidents
Investigations into motorcycle accidents consistently find unlawful passing by other drivers to be a leading cause of crashes. A UK study found over 15% of motorcycle collisions resulted from unsafe pass attempts.
Meanwhile, the Hurt Report – one of the most extensive US analyses of motorcycle crash causation – identified right-of-way violations as a primary injury-producing factor, often involving drivers failing to notice inconspicuous riders.
Put simply, unlawful passing statistically threatens motorcyclists’ safety far more than other road users. When accidents do occur due to careless maneuvers, injuries also tend to be more severe without full body protection.
Unfortunately, even fatal consequences aren’t uncommon. With so much at stake, reducing unlawful passes deserves serious attention.
Protections from Unlawful Passing Accidents
To help curb these avoidable risks, several legislative efforts aim to better protect riders through education and enforcement. For example, some “anti-lane splitting” bills restrict the ability of cars to cut past riders at red lights or in traffic jams.
Others increase penalties for passing violations or require additional motorcycle awareness as part of driver training. Advancements like blind spot detection systems in vehicles also assist in preventing unlawful passes. Individual precautions like wearing high-visibility gear and avoiding commutes during rush hour further reduce hazards.
Although risks can never be fully eliminated, emphasizing shared roadway responsibility through policies and precautions serves to shield more riders from harm with the help of experienced motorcycle unlawful passing accident lawyers if needed.
Turn to Motorcycle Unlawful Passing Accident Lawyers When Harms Occur
While progress is being made through education and advocacy, the risk of motorcycle accidents from unlawful passing will persist as long as reckless drivers remain on the roads. When harms do inevitably occur, motorcyclists need strong allies on their side. This is where motorcycle unlawful passing accident lawyers play a crucial role.
If injured from a crash caused by unsafe passing, riders should immediately turn to these legal experts for help. Motorcycle unlawful passing accident lawyers will battle to ensure rightful compensation from financially responsible parties. They also help give a voice to riders’ injuries, suffering, and losses, which advances the fight for stricter deterrence.