Frequently Asked Questions

We all know that various forms of transportation have different risks. For instance, there’s no question that it’s safer to ride in a jet airplane than to drive a car. That doesn’t mean every person who is injured in an automobile accident is automatically at fault.
So it is with motorcycles. Because they offer little protection during an accident, operating a motorcycle presents additional risks. Because motor bikes are heavier than bicycles and operate at greater speeds, naturally they are also more risky. Statistically speaking, motorcycles account for about 5 percent of all highway fatalities, even though they represent only 2 percent of registered vehicles.

Statistics should encourage riders to take every safety precaution possible when operating a motorcycle and when preparing to ride. A motorcycle is five or six times more likely to end up in a fatal accident than an automobile. Per mile traveled, it’s been estimated that a motorcycle is 35 times more likely to be involved in a fatality. Other studies claim serious injuries are 16 times more likely to occur in a motorcycle than an automobile. By comparison, motorcycles are about twice as likely to result in severe injury as bicycles.

Experienced Illinois and Wisconsin bikers are familiar with many safety tips that can help automobile and truck drivers be more aware of a motorcycle’s presence on the road, and thus prevent the most common sorts of accidents:

  • Avoid the blind spots of any vehicle, especially while passing 
  • Allow additional distances for reaction time and to act as a buffer for safety
  • Travel with the headlight on at all times and with working lamps
  • Use reflective gear and reflective tape
  • Avoid dark clothing and equipment
  • Tap brakes lightly while approaching a stop or when being followed by tailgaters
  • Try to make eye contact with drivers near the motorcycle
  • Use hand signals to alert drivers and other bikers
  • Use staggered formations when riding in a group
  • Try to avoid traveling if visibility is especially poor
  • When necessary, use the motorcycle’s horn.