There’s a reason why the global motorcycle market is expected to reach $200.20 billion by the year 2033. Not only are motorcycles more affordable than automobiles, but they also offer an unmatched sense of freedom.
That being said, if you’re driving a motorcycle it can be tempting to speed on the highway. However, it’s important to fight this urge and follow the speed limit. But exactly why is it vital to follow the speed limit on a motorcycle?
And what are some things you can do that will reduce the chances of an accident? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can stay safe whenever you put on your helmet and get behind the bike.
Speeding Causes More Accidents
Speeding creates dangerous driving conditions regardless of whether someone is driving a car or a motorcycle. When someone zooms past another person on the highway it gives them very little time to react.
A simple merge can turn into a high-speed crash. Similarly, when a cyclist is speeding they might not have time to respond to things like animals, holes in the road, or sharp turns.
And, as most people know, accidents that occur at high speeds are far more dangerous than low-speed collisions. That’s why it’s estimated that nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities are caused by speeding.
This statistic should be reason enough to follow speed limits. On top of that, there’s also the legality behind it. Going over the speed limit is illegal.
Breaking the law can often result in expensive traffic tickets. What’s more, if you’re caught recklessly breaking the speed limit multiple times it can result in a suspension of your license.
Motorcycle Injuries Are More Severe Than Automobile Injuries
We mentioned that speeding is directly linked to the main cause of most accidents. We also discussed how the injuries associated with high-speed crashes tend to be a lot more significant.
These two facts help explain why it’s much more important to follow the speed limit on a motorcycle than in a car. When you get into an accident in a car, multiple things are protecting you.
Your seatbelt, airbag, and even the metal frame of the car are all designed to absorb the impact and keep your body in the vehicle. Unfortunately, none of these safety measures are present in motorcycles.
When you’re involved in a high-speed motorcycle accident, you’ll likely be thrown from the vehicle. And at certain speeds, this is almost always fatal. If not, it will result in horrible injuries.
Even a minor motorcycle injury can be brutal, like road scraping and broken bones. If you have a common motorcycle injury in Tucson, your best bet is to seek legal compensation through an accident attorney.
However, if you’re speeding this can be a challenge because the other party can use that as evidence that you caused the accident. That’s simply another reason why it’s so important to follow the speed limit on a motorcycle.
Motorcycles Need to Follow the Same Speed Limit As Cars
There aren’t special laws that apply to motorcyclists and not cars when it comes to the motorcycle speed limit. Everyone is legally obligated to follow it. That being said, there are some cases where motorcyclists might need to accelerate faster to be safe.
For example, if there’s an unavoidable pothole in the road, motorcyclists need to hit it fast to prevent themselves from crashing.
While acceleration is allowed, it can present similar dangers as speeding. If you come up behind someone too quickly they might not notice you which can result in a collision.
Other Ways to Stay Safe on a Motorcycle
Following the speed limit is one of the best ways to stay safe on a motorcycle. That being said, even if you always follow the speed limit, there’s still a chance you could get in an accident.
You can’t control the carelessness of others, whether that’s driving under the influence or negligent speeding.
However, you can control some of the conditions under which you bike. Here are some additional safety tips you should be following.
Wear Protective Gear
It should go without saying that you need to be wearing a helmet every time you get behind your motorcycle. This will protect you against the worst threat to many motorcyclists which is blunt force trauma to the head.
That being said, it isn’t the only protective gear that you should be wearing when you ride. If you lose control of the bike you also want to protect yourself against road rash and debris.
Leather pants and jackets are great for this. You should also be wearing boots that go over your ankles and protective gloves for shielding your hands.
Hopefully, your helmet also has a visor so you can deal with weather conditions and bugs. However, if it doesn’t you should invest in a pair of gloves.
Use Safe Driving Practices
When riding a motorcycle you always want to keep a good distance from other vehicles. Sometimes this isn’t possible with traffic, but a distance of about four seconds away will give you enough time to stop.
Make sure you’re always using your signals when you merge or turn. Also, refrain from lane splitting. This practice of driving between lanes is dangerous and illegal in almost every state.
Watch Out for Hazards
You need to be especially vigilant if you’re riding a motorcycle in inclement weather. Snow and rain create dangerous driving conditions for you.
You also need to be mindful of things like potholes, bumps, and railroad tracks. All of these things can result in a crash if you aren’t prepared for them.
Appreciate Learning About Motorcycles? Keep Exploring
We hope this guide helped you learn more about the importance of the speed limit when driving a motorcycle. As you can see, refraining from speeding not only protects you and your vehicle but also other people on the road.
And when you combine it with some of the other motorcycle safety methods listed above, you maximize your chances of staying safe on the road.
Looking for more safety advice? We have plenty of similar topics that you can find if you keep on exploring our content today.
