Most motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers

I recently read a shocking statistic in the York Daily Record/Sunday News. In the last 18 months, 23 motorcyclists have died on York County roads. How can that be, I thought? Then I did a little research and found that most of these deaths could have been prevented if motorcyclists had followed the principles of what I like to call the “psychology of motorcycling.”

Since I only drove motorcycles for 25 years during my time in California and Florida (and never had an accident), I know what I’m talking about. I didn’t get my car license until I was 40.

I am convinced that in 99% of cases the motorcycle accident was caused by the driver of the motorcycle. The highway police may have found the car driver guilty, but the motorcyclist himself caused the accident in the first place.

If someone expects motorists to see motorcyclists, they are sadly mistaken, no matter how much training and education the motorist receives. There are simply too many blind spots where a motorcycle hides for this philosophy to be practical and stem the tide of road deaths. In addition, it is difficult for motorists to judge the speed of a motorcycle, thinking they have enough time to turn in front of the motorcycle, which is not the case. However, it is still up to the motorcyclist to be aware of the situation and react accordingly.

A more effective process would be for the motorcyclist to develop the mental skills needed to survive on the road. Here are my top 10, in no particular order:

1. Never overtake on the right. You are in the driver’s blind spot and if he wants to change lanes, you will have a problem.

2. Always keep your head up and look at the road. If you want to look at your bike, park it, get off and look at it.

3. Always keep your head in view, especially at intersections. Looking left, right, and then left again before crossing an intersection is not always enough. Imagine the NFL player running down the field constantly looking over his shoulder for any catching tacklers. That should be a motorcyclist at the intersection looking left and right.

4. Always keep your eyes on the road and look in your mirrors. The day you feel relaxed and stress-free and you don’t pay close attention to what is happening, you are in trouble. Riding a motorcycle is supposed to be a stressful experience. I mean, every time you get on a motorcycle, you are putting yourself in a dangerous situation and that creates stress. After riding in unfamiliar territory, I always felt mentally exhausted when I arrived at my destination because I had used up so much mental energy on the road.

5. Watch the traffic and think about what can happen on the road. Imagine the worst that can happen, because that’s what usually happens. If you drive as if you were invisible, you’ll be fairly safe.

6. Never assume what a car will do. The best example of this is a motorcyclist waiting at a stop sign and a car driver is coming from the left with his right turn signal on. If the motorcyclist starts driving and doesn’t wait for the car’s turn…

7. Never ride in the left lane on the highway unless you are passing slower traffic. The most important quality a motorcyclist can have is patience. If a motorcyclist lacks patience, he or she will not last very long. As I drive through York County, I constantly see motorcyclists riding in the left lane on Highway 83, staying close to the car in front of them. Why? Because they lack patience.

8. Obey all traffic laws. I recently read about a motorcyclist who died because he was overtaking cars on the shoulder. Traffic laws must be obeyed because believe it or not, they can save your life.

9. Don’t drive faster than traffic. I’ve never felt the need for speed. The first time I drove over the Bay Bridge in San Francisco at 55 miles per hour, I was scared, my heart in my throat. Of course, you get used to it, but I’ve never felt the need to exceed the speed limit. However, motorcyclists also have to keep up with the speed of traffic.

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