Spring motorcycle rides are a seasonal rite of passage. After months of a motorcycle sitting in storage, riders can finally get out on the open road again once the temperatures rise and the snow melts.
When they head out for their first ride of the season and any other springtime trips, awareness of the three hazards below could potentially help them avoid a devastating crash.
1. Wet pavement
Most motorcycle riders understand that riding in the rain is relatively dangerous. What some people fail to understand is that the risk of a crash remains elevated after the rain stops falling. Wet pavement can decrease traction and increase stopping distance, affecting the rider’s control of a motorcycle.
2. Inattentive drivers
Motorcycles are easy for people to overlook in traffic. Many safety experts recommend that motorists specifically watch for motorcycles on the road. Most drivers don’t expect to see motorcycles in the spring, especially in March or April, increasing the risk of them failing to notice a motorcycle.
3. Animal activity
The springtime sees many animals becoming more active after resting throughout the colder winter months. Between migration patterns and breeding season for some species, the risk of animals wandering into the road is higher in the spring than during other parts of the year. Riders could end up involved in devastating crashes if they hit animals or swerve to avoid them.
Especially when other drivers are at fault for a motorcycle collision, injured riders may have grounds to request compensation for the wreck. Reviewing motorcycle crash circumstances and insurance policy information can help injured riders recover their losses.