Sharing the Road with Motorcycles in Missouri

It’s estimated that per mile traveled, the number of deaths for motorcyclists is 27 times higher than it is for drivers of cars and trucks.

Motorcycles are less stable than cars, more difficult to see, and they don’t provide the driver or passenger with a safety cage like cars do. They rely solely on the protective clothing and helmet if they’re involved in a serious accident.

However, drivers and motorcyclists can work together to make the road safer for everyone.

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What Sharing the Road Means

Sharing the road means that you will not compromise your safety for the convenience of another or yourself. The term sharing the road is usually used in conjunction with bicyclists, but it also applies to motorcycles. It’s important for all drivers to remember a few key concepts:

• Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights as car
• Motorcycles should be given a full lane width rather than sharing a lane with a car
• Nearly 40 percent of accidents between cars and motorcycles involve a car making a left turn in front of the bike
• Always use turn signals so other drivers can understand your intentions
• Always look over your shoulder when changing lanes or making turns to confirm that there is nothing in your blind spot
• Motorcycle signals are not self-canceling, and the riders sometimes forget to turn them off – wait a moment before assuming that a bike will follow through with a turn
• Road conditions that are a minor problem for a car can be a major hazard for motorcycles
• Motorcycles lack the safety equipment found in cars, so they should be given a greater following distance

Motorcycle Accidents in Missouri

In Missouri, there were 261 fatalities of motorcyclists in 2014. Of those, more than 16 percent were under the age of 21. While you strive to avoid accidents at all times, you may feel that it’s more important to avoid collisions with motorcycles since their risk of injury is so high.

Tips for Safely Sharing the Road

Sharing the road with motorcycles will take some additional diligence on the part of drivers.

People use little signs in car windows and bumper stickers to remind people to keep an eye out for bikes, and you may also see reminders appear on social media when the weather is nice. However, there are some habits you can get into to make the road safer for everyone.

– Tips for Motorists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTQrTVrNSc

Every driver on the road can take steps to reduce the risk of accidents and help everyone stay safe. While a person in an automobile is safer than a rider on a single bike, the risk for injuries and property damage is still high.

Follow these steps to make your next road trip more pleasant:

• Keep a positive attitude and remember that the motorcyclist has less protection than you
• Check blind spots regularly
• Pass with care – treat the motorcycle as if it was a full-size car and move completely into the other lane when passing on the highway or back roads
• Pay closer attention at night
• Stay in your lane
• Motorcycles travel faster than you realize, so do not jump in front of a bike at full traveling speed and then slow down to turn right
• Use the horn sparingly because it’s jarringly loud to a rider
• Bikers often downshift to slow down, so the bike in front of you may reduce speed without illuminating brake lights – be sure to increase your following distance
• Just as you keep a wary out for speeders and aggressive drivers, keep an eye out for bikers driving erratically or aggressively

Invest in the right insurance to protect your assets and keep your liability to a minimum.

In Missouri, you’re required to carry $25,000 per person bodily injury coverage, $50,000 per accident bodily injury coverage, and $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.

However, you may also want to invest in uninsured motorist coverage. You’ll require collision coverage to fix your car if it’s damaged in an accident.

– Tips for Motorcyclists

It’s important for automobile drivers to be courteous, but motorcyclists also have certain responsibilities when on the open road. Regardless of whom is at fault, the person on the motorcycle is more likely to sustain serious or fatal injuries.

If you’re going to be heading out on two wheels, follow these tips to stay safe:

• Invest in the right gear, including helmet, boots, and leather jacket
• Opt for the full face helmet to reduce fatigue and wind noise
• Get a bike you can handle – it should be comfortable under you with handlebars and controls you can easily reach
• Drive defensively so that you can catch a car’s mistake before it’s too late
• Get the antilock brakes
• Avoid bad weather
• Pass with caution
• Watch for hazards in the road that can result in a serious accident
• Take a motorcycle safety course to improve your skills

In Minnesota, you’re required to have a special policy for your motorcycle. You can get an independent policy just for your bike, but you’ll likely find that it’s more cost-effective to go with the same company that insures your regular car.

Dangers of Hogging the Road

Whether you call it aggressive driving or hogging the road, it can encompass a wide range of activities.

This includes engaging in road rage behaviors, speeding, tailgating, cutting people off, and failing to use turn signals. Aggressive driving has been gaining more attention because research shows that it’s a leading cause of serious crashes.

When you engage in this activity, you run the risk of:

• Injuries to yourself and your car
• Injuries to the motorcyclist
• Costly tickets and legal fines
• The loss of your license
• An increase in insurance premiums or a loss of coverage

Shopping Around for the Best Insurance

Finding the best rate for insurance is easier than you think. Once you know what coverages you’re interested in, you can look at the different limits. While liability and personal injury are required by law, you can also go with some optional coverages to better safeguard your asset.

– Types of Coverage

Collision is required to pay for the damages that occur to your bike in an accident that you may be found at fault for. If another driver causes your accident, then your damage will be covered by the other insurance company.

However, this won’t make a difference if the other driver is uninsured or is only carrying the state minimums. Uninsured motorist protection would cover the damage in this event.

Comprehensive coverage will take care of all types of damage not related to an accident on the road. This includes storm damage, vandalism, and generally theft. You can keep the cost of comprehensive coverage down by opting for a higher deductible.

– Shopping for Coverage Online

Rather than calling one agency after another, you can simplify the process with online comparisons. You can find the best price for the coverage by using an online comparison tool.

You’ll have the opportunity to check out the reviews on companies you’re considering and look at their financial ratings with companies. Just enter your information once and then see what types of offers come in for you.

– Ask About Discounts

Save more money by asking for discounts. Many companies offer price breaks if you have more than one vehicle or policy with the company. This is why homeowners will bundle their car and home insurance together, and you can keep your motorcycle and car with the same company to save.

If you’re a safe driver with a clean record, you can ask about a safe driver discount.

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