FEATURE

Look twice, save a life

Experts share tips for driving with caution around motorcyclists

On a cold Saturday morning in a Great Lakes parking lot, Zak Purdon (second to the right), a motorcycle safety instructor, directs the class where they should stop when braking. The advanced rider course teaches riders to be more comfortable with their bikes and how to improve on their control skills. Courtney Prielipp | The Washtenaw Voice

Beck Elandt | Staff Writer

Independent of their egos, motorcyclists have a need to stand out. Sunglasses, long hair, thick beards and leather jackets complete the look on a loud Harley Davidson, but bikers can also come looking like a blacked-out Power Ranger riding something straight out of the movie “Tron.”

On the inside, they are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters–teachers, students, you name it. Motorcyclists are everywhere.

Protection

Lindsey Higginbottom, an instructor for the WCC motorcycle endorsement course, said that no matter what kind of protective clothes you wear, “you’re still pretty much naked” compared to someone in a car.

From a driver’s perspective, you are surrounded by a hard shell of metal, enforced with padding and safety features, contributing to a heavier vehicle.

In the state of Michigan, “motorcyclists were nearly 17 times more likely than vehicle occupants overall to be killed in an automobile crash in 2019,” according to michiganautolaw.com. The national average is 28 to 30 times more likely.

Size

Handling, acceleration and braking are all better with a motorcycle than in a car, with the primary shortcoming being size.

The number one cause of Michigan motorcycle accidents is motorists failing to see motorcycles, according to Callsam.com; even more fatal than head-on collisions.

In spring, warm weather draws a lot of bikers out of their garages and onto the road, so you might not expect them to be there.

Distractions

One of the biggest reasons for driving collisions is cell phone usage.

Texting, according to Michigan injury lawyers, “is one of the main types of distracted driving,” while others include adjusting navigation systems and talking on the phone.

John Leacher, Chief of Public Safety for WCC, wants all drivers to pay more attention and avoid driving distracted.

Leacher reminds us that distracted driving is a very real thing, and it’s even more important to “maintain safe distances around motorcycles.”

“Riders don’t pay enough attention,” said Higginbottom on accidents. Higginbottom believes that increased caution and thoughtfulness at any given moment during a ride can make the difference between life and death more than most riders think.

According to Higginbottom, about 33% of motorcycle accidents involve only the rider, nobody else. About 66% of accidents involve other vehicles.

Chris Fernandez, taking the advanced rider course at WCC, started riding motorcycles through YouTube inspiration.

The advanced rider course allows riders to become familiar with their own bikes and improve their control/maneuvering skills.

“It’s a much cheaper hobby than cars, and insurance rates are cheaper,” Fernandez said. His sticking piece of safety advice is, “You can never overthink.”

Christopher Ferandez, a student in the advanced rider course (left), and Uly Wong, a motorcycle instructor and WCC employee, comment on Ferandez’s handling on the course. Wong demonstrates to Fernandez that where your head looks is the direction the bike will go. Courtney Prielipp | The Washtenaw Voice

Andrew King has been riding his bike for 5 to 7 years. King said that it’s nice to come out after winter as it reminds him to practice how to ride. Courtney Prielipp | The Washtenaw Voice