Following the years of being inside with COVID-19, many are itching to get outside and enjoy the warm weather when it’s here! With the increase of people outside there has also been a major increase in the amount of motorcycle accidents in 2021.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, 2021 saw the most fatal motorcycle accidents since 1980, when the department began collecting data. There were a total of 154 lives lost in 2021, with 116 lost in 2019.
Law enforcement leaders believe this increase in avoidable accidents could be caused by the increase in travelers on the road following Coronavirius and distracted driving. To make South Carolina a safer place to live, we want to share a few tips on how to avoid distracted driving and how to stay aware of motorcycles on the roads:
1. Silence your phone while driving
Many phones now come with a feature to alert others that you are driving when they send you a text or attempt to call! Utilizing this feature is a great way to insure you are not distracted while driving and also lets loved ones know why you haven’t responded.
2. Pull over if you need to complete a task
If there is an emergency that needs to be immediately addressed, pull over at a safe place! Be sure that your car is a safe distance from the road or pull into a parking lot, if possible, to respond to that text message and only begin driving again when your conversation is finished.
3. Help your friends remain focused
As a passenger, help your friends stay focused on the road by assisting them with the radio, helping them to follow directions to your destination, or any other task they want to complete. This ensures the driver’s attention is solely on the road.
Look Twice, Save a Life
One of the best tips to avoid hitting those on motorcycles is to LOOK TWICE! As a vehicle driver, oftentimes we don’t actively look for motorcycles because we are focused on looking for other cars. Motorcyclists’ smaller size also makes them harder to spot when traveling. So, be sure to double-check oncoming traffic when making a left turn, one of the most common times to hit a motorcycle, double-check your blindspots when changing lanes, don’t follow too closely to motorcycles in front of you, and pay attention to their brake lights.
There are thousands of avoidable fatal accidents each year on South Carolina roadways. The leading cause of these accidents is distracted driving, something that we can all come together and avoid to make the roads safer. If you or someone you love has been injured while driving a motorcycle through no fault of your own, please contact our office today for a free initial consultation. We are committed to helping those who have been injured recover the support they need.
