The exhilaration and feeling of freedom on a bike are only a couple of the things that inspire people to ride. Getting on a bike and riding solo or with a group has little comparison when hitting the road. However, despite knowing of the increased dangers, many riders only take the bare minimum steps when it comes to addressing safety and their gear.
Bike riders are 35 times more likely to die in a motorcycle accident than those in passenger vehicles. There are several different causes of bike crashes: low visibility, dangerous intersections, the speed and acceleration of bikes, and increased exposure without the protection of a car around you to name a few.
One of the ways that bikers are able to be safer is to choose the right kind of gear. But I think it’s safe to say that most safety gear isn’t exactly fashion forward. So when it comes to weighing safety against looking good, appearance can win out for many. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recognized this issue in a recent study about how to encourage riders to use higher-visibility safety gear.
The study was conducted throughout the United States and encompassed men and women riders in the following groups: cruiser riders, sport motorcycle riders, touring motorcycle riders, scooter riders, all motorcycle types, and mixed motorcycle types passengers The idea here was that each of these groups have different characteristics when it comes to how or why they use their bikes and how they may look at safety gear.
The report came back that most of the participants did not regularly wear recommended safety gear. Those who did wear the ideal gear had previously been in a motorcycle accident or personally knew someone who was. Unfortunately, this can be too little too late.
Participants of the study recommended the following changes to appeal to bikers: more attractive and appealing clothing (preferring retroreflective gear as opposed to bright colors; universally incorporate high-visibility elements across all branded motorcycle gear; educational messaging that is backed by statistics; financial incentives like insurance discounts; and increasing the gradual social norm of this type of clothing, such as use during low-light conditions.
Probably one of the toughest things in any dangerous activity is trying to make safety cool or fashionable. Danger will probably almost always have a connotation of “cool.” Sadly, all it takes is one mistake by a driver or a rider to cause serious injury or death. The GHSA is doing its best to reduce motorcycle accident fatalities and tragedies through this study.
Consider these types of additional coverage for your bike
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) – These coverages must be offered to you by your insurer by law in the state of California. If you choose not to accept them, they will have you sign a waiver. This type of coverage is important to consider because it will cover you if you’re hit by someone who is either not insured or underinsured (i.e., your damages exceed what their policy limits are).
Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay) – MedPay coverage is something that will kick in right away. This is through your own insurer and ranges from $1,000 up to $25,000. The idea behind this coverage is to cover any immediate medical or funeral expenses. Using it will not affect your premium. Another good characteristic of MedPay is that it will “follow” the policyholder. This means you can use it even if you’re out of state or riding in someone else’s vehicle.
If you have questions about a motorcycle accident and your coverage, please feel free to give us a call. We offer free case evaluations and are happy to go over your case with you to figure out your options.
We can be reached at (916) 619-5452, via our form online, and by email at info@hanecaklaw.com.
