Posted by Lance on May 18, 2013
Despite the rising statistics of motorcycle accidents, there are still a lot of people who prefer to ride their bikes than to drive a car. Why, you ask? Because they believe that motorcycles are a lot safer. Here are some reasons why people believe two-wheeled motorcycles are a safer vehicle than their four-wheeled counterparts:
- Better view of the road – with the rider’s position, they have a wider and fuller view of the road. They don’t have anything around them that can create blind spots, and turning their heads can give them a clear, all-around view. With the bike’s size, they can move from lane to lane if another vehicle blocks their view. Seeing the road better, especially other motorists around, can give you a better chance of adjusting yourself to drive safely and avoid accidents.
- Quicker evasion and response – Once you see something gone awry you can have quicker response to avoid it. Being smaller than other vehicles on the road also make motorcycles swerve to other lanes to avoid collisions, and can pull to off shoulders safely if necessary. Motorcycles can also accelerate faster from a dangerous scene, and clearly has more evasion maneuvers than a car.
- More focused on driving – distractions are the leading cause of road accidents, and being inside the car makes a person be tempted to multitask. With the convenience of being able to drive with only one hand and doing another thing, people who drive cars can get distracted very easily, making them prone to accidents. Motorcycle riders, on the other hand, need both hands to drive, and put their attention to driving. They can’t afford to get distracted by doing another thing while on their bikes, thus they pay more attention to their driving and to other motorists.
- Better understanding of safety – motorcycle riders have very little protection, which explains why they are more attuned to driving safely than most motorists. Even with the protection offered by the car if the driver is careless, then accidents can still occur. Because riders understand their vulnerability when driving on the roads, they take a stance of defensive driving to protect themselves, making them a more responsible driver than most motorists.
Driving motorcycles definitely have their risks, as with driving cars. Everything we do comes with risks, we need to learn to recognize and understand these risks and do our best to minimize them to avoid accidents. Motorcycle accidents can definitely lead to serious injuries, but being a responsible motorist can greatly prevent these injuries.
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Posted by Lance on May 17, 2013
Summer break is a time for enjoying your friends, spending time with family, and traveling. Although the summer time is usually extremely enjoyable and give people memories that last a lifetime, a car accident can ruin this in an instant.
Unfortunately, summer break for students can greatly increase the chance that a person is involved in an accident due to a number of factors. And since no one wants to spend their summer dealing with the repercussions of an accident or contacting a personal injury lawyer should another driver cause them to be involved in an accident, drivers should consider taking the following tips for driving safely during their vacation time into account:
- Be aware of intoxicated or inebriated drivers. People tend to drink alcohol in much greater amounts during the holidays, making the chance that you may encounter a tipsy or drunk driver much greater. Additionally, people tend to drink more throughout the day rather than just late at night, making it imperative that you drive with caution at all times. Should you drive near someone who is exhibiting signs of drunk driving such as weaving between lanes, driving in the wrong direction, stopping or accelerating suddenly, or swerving suddenly, you should drive as far behind them as possible or try to take another route.
- Drive appropriately in inclement weather. While not every city or town has to deal with the effects that snow can have on roads, any place can be susceptible to the occasional snow fall or roads icing over. In such situations, you should consider not traveling anywhere in your vehicle or make sure to take appropriate actions and drive much more carefully if you have to go somewhere.
- Make yourself aware of the driving regulations in any places that you travel to. Many people visit family and friends during the vacation time, meaning they may find themselves driving in new places. Although many laws and driving standards stay the same, not all do. As such, it is necessary for you to make yourself aware of any laws and regulations that may be different from where you live.
- Give yourself extra time to get from place to place. As there are more drivers on the road during the holidays, traffic can increase greatly. Additionally, many people have important places they need to be, causing many to feel rushed when driving. However, if you plan ahead and give yourself some extra time, you can drive more safely and not feel like you have to make hazardous driving decisions in order to be somewhere on time.
- Be more aware of pedestrians. During summer vacation, there tend to be more people walking around, whether shopping, seeing tourist attractions, or for other reasons, especially in more urban settings. As such, it is important for drivers to be aware of this increase in pedestrian activity and be more cautious when driving on streets where pedestrians may be.
By taking these and other safe driving tips into consideration, you may be able to protect you and your loved ones from being involved in an accident during your summer break vacation.
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Posted by Lance on May 16, 2013
Tomorrow, Friday May 17th, is National Bike to Work Day. You are encouraged to make your morning and evening commutes on a bicycle. The day is part of Bicycle Month, which is promoted by the League of American Bicyclists.
Many cities will be having events for biking commuters tomorrow. Some plan on having free breakfasts available for bikers in designated parts of the city, while others are holding giveaways and contests.
Bicycling can drastically reduce an individual’s carbon emissions while improving their health. It’s fun and can actually be faster than driving under certain circumstances, since bikes can bypass a lot of traffic.
As always, it’s important to be aware of bicyclists while driving. If you are choosing to drive a car tomorrow, try to be more careful and forgiving of the bicyclists you encounter, since some of them may be new to commuting via bike.
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Posted by Lance on May 6, 2013
Riding a bicycle in conditions with low visibility can be dangerous if you do not have anything illuminating you or your bike. Reduced visibility, when combined with the speed at which cars move, makes bikers who do not have lights incredibly difficult to see. However, adding front and back lights to your bike can make you dramatically more visible, even in fog, rain, and darkness.
There are three primary kinds of bicycle headlights, distinguishable by how powerful they are. The standard light that all bikers should have is a basic commuter light. These lights don’t do much in the way of lighting a pathway, but they do increase your visibility to other vehicles, meaning they are much more likely to see you and therefore avoid a collision. Medium-powered lights are similar, but can light part of your way as well.
Beyond that, lights become increasingly powerful to the point where they can safely light an advanced trail at night. This is great for off-road cycling, but almost totally unnecessary for day-to-day commuting.
Staying visible at night or in foggy conditions is vital for cyclists since it drastically increases the chances cars will see them, reducing their risk of being injured in car accidents.
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Posted by Lance on May 1, 2013
Cities across the U.S. have benefitted significantly from car sharing programs like Cars2Go, a car sharing program that allows drivers to pick up a car that is located near them, drive the vehicle to their destination, and leave the vehicle there. However, a new proposal before the Berkeley city council would bring a bike sharing program to the city.
Similar programs have already been adopted in a number of U.S. cities, including Washington D.C. and Denver, and city councilman Darryl Moore says that bringing such a program to Berkeley could have considerable benefits for the city, including decreased congestion on roadways, reduction in fossil fuel use, and an increased use of multi-person vehicle usage, like carpooling and public transportation.
The proposal does not include a plan for implementing a bike sharing program itself, but instructs the city manager to create such a plan within 6 months.
You can read more about Moore’s proposal here:
http://berkeley.patch.com/articles/bicycle-sharing-plan-goes-to-berkeley-council
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Posted by Lance on Mar 30, 2013
There are three general forms of distracted driving, and each is dangerous in its own right. These three major categories of distraction are manual distraction, visual distraction, and cognitive distraction. Manual distraction means that a driver’s hands are not on the wheel, where they should be, when driving. Visual distraction refers to a situation in which a driver is not looking at the roadway, usually because he or she is looking at something else in the vehicle or near that road. Cognitive distraction means that a person’s thoughts are on something besides the driving tasks at hand, whether they are lost in thought, talking to another person, or engaging in another task altogether while they are driving, like applying makeup. Each one of these distracted driving behaviors can cause significant hazards, and they are more commonly seen during the holiday season when people are thinking about a lot of things besides their driving.
Dangers of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can lead to some very serious car accidents, and can increase the severity of an accident should one occur. Some of the greatest risks posed by distracted driving include the following:
- Cars veering into other lanes
- Drivers suddenly slamming on the brakes or the accelerator when distracted visually
- Drivers failing to slow down for sharp turns
- Failure to use turn signals to warn others of your actions
- Drivers disregarding road signs or warning signs
Each of these dangerous actions can result from distractions behind the wheel, and are often seen in holiday season traffic accidents. Sadly, a fun, exciting day can quickly become painful, frustrating, and costly if you are involved in an accident caused by a distracted driver. Many who are involved in this type of accident have to talk with a car accident lawyer in order to learn more about their legal rights and options for pursuing compensation.
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Posted by Lance on Mar 15, 2013
Road defects are a common cause of auto accidents in the United States. These problems arise due to faulty installation, poor design, and natural wear and tear. It is the state or municipality’s responsibility to take care of these problems should they pose a threat to motorists, and neglecting even the smallest defects could potentially lead to disastrous accidents.
It is the driver’s responsibility to stay attentive on the road and to drive safely; however not everything is under the driver’s control. Other motorists, car defects, and road defects are just among the many factors that can contribute to having an auto accident. With the deteriorating state of the roads because of constant use, even shoulder drop-offs can become a hazard for drivers.
Shoulder drop-offs offer a safe stopping place for those having problems with their vehicles, either to perform quick fixes, such as changing tires or making cargo adjustments, or to call a professional towing company in order to get qualified car repair service at a shop. Unfortunately, faulty construction work and defective repairs can make these drop-offs dangerous. Among the most common accidents that can happen on shoulder drop-offs are:
1. Roll-over accidents
2. Tire damages or tire blow-outs
3. Damages to the suspension system
4. Damages to the steering system, disabling your control over the vehicle
Not many people take defective or uneven shoulder drop-offs as dangerous places, but they can contribute to a serious auto accident which can cause severe injuries, not only to the driver of the vehicle, but also to the passengers and to other motorists are well. Since it is the government’s responsibility to take care of the roads and maintain them, they are the ones that can be held liable for an auto accident connected to road defects, including should drop-offs.
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Posted by Lance on Feb 18, 2013
Eventually, your bicycle’s tires will wear out and you will need to purchase new ones. Since most cyclists have to deal with buying new tires so infrequently, the process remains a bit of an unknown to the masses. It doesn’t have to be that way! Choosing the right tires is not difficult at all for the casual rider. Besides, riding on worn out tires can increase the chances your tires will blow out or lose grip of the road, which are real, life-threatening dangers.
The first thing you have to know in order to replace your old, worn out tires is what size they are. Bicycle tire size is two-dimensional. Tires are first measured by their diameter, the distance from one end of the tire through where the wheel’s axle will be. Most bikes use tires that are between 25-27 inches. BMX bicycles commonly use 20 inch tires.
The other dimension is the tire’s width, which is a good indicator of how much grip it will have. Wider tires will have more grip, meaning improved control, but at the cost of losing more of the work you put into the bicycle to friction against the road. Tires that are wider also allow for more treading, which increases a cyclist’s control in muddy or wet conditions. Wider tires are more common among beach cruisers and mountain bikes, while narrow tires are prevalent on road and racing bikes.
To make matters simple, most tires actually have this information physically printed on them, so it should be easy to find. Otherwise, you can measure it out for yourself. When you go to make your tire purchase, be sure to get tires that fit your bike, are durable, and have an appropriate level of treading for where you ride.
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Posted by Lance on Feb 1, 2013
As a parent, one of the scariest and most uncertain times in your life is watching your child drive off alone for the first time. With over two million injuries and 40,000 fatalities every year due to car accidents, your child is at risk of being in an accident every time he or she gets behind the wheel. There are a number of dangers your child could encounter on the road, but one of the most serious and difficult one to deal with is driving in winter weather.
Not only does winter weather present a number of obstacles that are dangerous, but it also presents driving conditions our children may not have experience dealing with. Fortunately, you can be proactive and help your child understand what to do if he or she encounters snowy or icy road conditions.
Above all, try to prevent your child from driving during inclement winter weather if at all possible. However, if your child must drive during this weather, make sure he or she knows to:
- Decrease their speed significantly. Reports suggest that speeding is the single greatest contributing factor to accidents on icy or snowy roads.
- Allow three times more space than they normally would allow to stop
- Never slam on their brakes on icy or snowy surfaces
- Use lower gears and never use cruise control on icy roadways
- Let off the accelerator and steer into the direction of a skid until they regain control
Parents should also make sure their child’s vehicle is read to handle icy conditions. This means:
- Make sure windshield wipers work properly and headlights are cleaned and turned on
- Make sure the vehicle’s tires have an appropriate amount of tread on them. If you live in an area of the country with significant snow and ice you may consider getting your child chains for the tires.
One way you can help decrease the risk of a car accident for your child is to practice these techniques in a snowy, open parking lot so that they are better prepared if and when they have to deal with snow and ice on the open road.
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