Driving on roadways, whether on four wheels or two, means being around potential hazards. For motorcyclists, cars making left turns is a serious concern for multiple reasons.
This problem happens due to several factors, highlighting the need for drivers to remain cautious.
Bad visibility
One critical factor motorcyclists face when cars turn left is a lack of visibility. Unlike trucks or cars, motorcycles are small and short, making them less noticeable in traffic. In fact, fatal collisions with another vehicle accounted for 43% of all car accidents in 2021.
When a car driver prepares to make a left turn, their focus is naturally on oncoming traffic, often causing them to overlook motorcyclists around them. This situation can greatly increase the risk of collisions.
Misjudged speeds
Car drivers may misjudge the time required for a motorcycle to pass through an intersection. This misjudgment can lead to cars turning left directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, leaving the motorcyclist at risk for an accident that can give them spinal cord or head trauma.
Lack of safe following distance
Maintaining a safe following distance is important for road safety, particularly when people are making left turns. The lack of proper following distance between a car and a motorcycle can lead to dangerous consequences. If a car tailgates a motorcycle, the motorcyclist cannot move around freely, reducing their ability to prevent a collision caused by a sudden left turn.
The safety of motorcyclists on the road heavily depends on both the attentiveness of car drivers and any proactive measures taken by motorcyclists themselves.