Summer is officially in full swing, nothing is better than taking your bike out on the open road on a hot summer day. However, motorcyclists face significant risks during this type of year, making summer riding especially dangerous. Data from Progressive insurance reveals the summer months – June, July, and August are when the most fatal motorcycle crashes occur. Many factors lead to a surge of wrecks during this time.
Not only are motorcyclists more likely to share the road with impaired and inexperienced drivers during the summer months, but they are also competing for space with cars and trucks. As a rider, your safety is our top priority, and you must remain vigilant while riding during the heat of the summer and learn what factors may increase your risk of a deadly crash.
What Factors Lead To Summertime Motorcycle Crashes?
Increased Traffic Congestion
Summer is the time for road trips, vacations, and outdoor recreational activities. For motorcyclists, this also means increased traffic and the potential for accidents. Crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that 61% of motorcycle fatalities occur in more urban areas. This is due to the influx of travel on urban roadways, with a spike of pedestrians, bicyclists, and more vehicles on the road. These factors, during the summer months, can lead to a dangerous motorcycle accident.
Impaired Drivers
Another reason motorcycle crashes tend to spike in the summer months is mainly due to drunk drivers. Between barbecues, outdoor get-togethers, and celebrations, there is more of a chance for a drunk driver to get behind the wheel and cause a severe motorcycle-related accident.
Alcohol and drugs can seriously impair a driver’s perception, judgment, motor skills, and memory – the skills necessary for safe and responsible driving. Drunk driving remains a critical issue in the U.S, and it endangers the lives of everyone else on the road.
Inexperienced Drivers
During the summer months, due to school being out, there is often a surge of teen drivers on the roadways. This can significantly pose a greater risk of a crash for motorcycle riders because teen drivers lack driving experience and errors of judgment that more seasoned drivers have, making their behaviors more negligent on the road. Teen drivers are also more likely to engage in dangerous driving behaviors such as which pose a risk of a fatal motorcycle accident:
Reckless driving.
Speeding.
Distracted driving.
Disobeying traffic laws.
Contact Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
McNabola & Associates, LLC has over 60 years of legal experience representing motorcycle riders involved in an accident. If you were involved in a motorcycle crash, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our dedicated team will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, contact us today at [[INVALID_TOKEN]] to schedule a free case consultation.