Perspective

Five things motorcyclists wish you knew

July 1, 2020 by PEMCO Insurance

For Northwest motorcyclists, the calendar just flipped to the happiest time of year.

Long, reliably dry July days add to ridership perks like fuel economy, easy parking, front-of-the-line boarding at ferry crossings and, of course, pure open-road fun. But safety? Sadly, still not at the top of the list.

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Although motorcycles make up only 3% of registered vehicles on the nation's highways, they account for 15% of vehicle fatalities. A motorcyclist is 28% more likely to suffer fatal injuries in a crash than someone riding in a car, according to the latest stats (2018) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some of that vulnerability comes from just how different the experience of riding a motorcycle is compared to driving a car. Although motorcycles follow basically the same laws, riders say they wished drivers sharing the road understood more about what it's like navigating on two wheels:

1. Expect unpredictability. When drivers see motorcycles swerve, they may think, "Reckless!" What they can't see, though, is the pothole or cracked pavement the motorcyclist is avoiding.

2. Beware your blind spot. Because of their relatively small size, motorcycles can disappear quickly from view. That's why it's critical to double-check during lane changes – especially in states that allow lane splitting on freeways (illegal in Washington and Oregon, although each has considered allowing it).

3. Add following distance. Riders can slow down without using their brakes – meaning drivers won't see a brake light to warn them. Instead of the two-second following-distance rule you may have learned years ago, increase it to a minimum of three or four seconds when you're behind a motorcycle. (And we'd argue that under many Northwest road conditions, two seconds isn't enough for cars, either.)

4. Don't rely on a motorcycle's turn signal. Blinkers on a motorcycle may not turn off automatically like they do in a car. So just because you see a turn signal, don't assume the rider will be turning ahead. The signal may be on by mistake.

5. Leave plenty of space when passing. When you pull around a motorcycle to pass, the force of the air current created by your car could be enough to knock a rider off balance.

And for all those scooters tooling around Northwest metro areas? Treat the bigger ones (think Vespas) like motorcycles. For the smaller ones (rental e-scooters), apply bicycle rules, giving them a minimum three-foot space bubble. Cities are still sorting out their e-scooter ordinances, so check the rules in your area.

We can help you insure your motorcycle

Like drivers, motorcyclists in Washington and Oregon are required to carry insurance. If you'd like to get a no-obligation quotation, let us know. Your local PEMCO agent or the specialty insurance experts at PEMCO Insurance Agency can help you find coverage for your motorcycle, as well as ATVs, collector vehicles, manufactured homes and more. Contact your agent, email agency@pemco.com or call 1-800-GO-PEMCO, ext. 9311.

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