How Distracted Driving Leads to Motorcycle Accidents
Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri, located in the United States. With a growing population, motorcycle accidents are common here. Motorcycle accidents in Kansas City often result in severe injuries or fatalities, with distracted driving being a leading cause.
Whether caused by texting, phone calls, or in-car distractions, drivers who aren't fully focused on the road pose a serious threat to motorcyclists. Since they're smaller and less protected, motorcycles are vulnerable to collisions, so the fight against distracted driving is paramount to highway safety.
Motorcycle accident cases in Kansas City arise often because distracted drivers may miss a motorcyclist in the blind spot or react too late, thereby inflicting serious injuries. Motorcycle accidents have life-changing consequences, and as it is, there needs to be more awareness and more careful driving.
Common Distractions That Lead to Motorcycle Accidents
There are numerous types of distractions that are extremely common on roads these days, all of which are dangerous to motorcyclists. These include:
Texting and Driving
One of the deadliest distractions is driving and texting, which will remove a driver's eyes from the road for two seconds. At the same time, it may seem like a moment; at high speeds, those few seconds can be the difference between avoiding an accident.
For motorcyclists, even a split second of distraction can result in a crash because they are harder to spot and have fewer seconds to react to changing traffic. A distracted driver who is texting may not notice a motorcyclist in time to avoid a crash, thus increasing the likelihood of severe injury.
Talking on the Phone
Even when hands-free technology is used, phone conversations continue to distract a driver's eyes from the road. Having a conversation can distract a driver mentally, lowering their situational awareness. That distraction makes it more difficult to see a motorcyclist, particularly in blind spots, and can reduce the speed at which a driver can act upon a change in traffic, such as a motorcyclist performing an abrupt lane change or braking suddenly.
In-Car Entertainment Systems
Modern cars come equipped with advanced infotainment systems that, although useful, are often the main reason for distraction. Drivers constantly have to take their eyes off the road or fiddle with controls to adjust settings.
This distracts them from potential hazards, such as a motorcyclist stopping or signaling to turn. The more sophisticated such systems become, the higher the risk of distraction, particularly when drivers make enjoyment the focus of their priority above road safety.
Adjusting GPS or Radio
Many drivers find themselves adjusting their GPS or radio while on the road, tasks that might seem trivial but still require enough attention to divert focus from the road. Motorcyclists, being smaller and less visible, are particularly at risk when drivers are distracted by these activities.
By the time the driver refocuses on the road, it may be too late to avoid a collision, and even a small change in direction or speed could lead to serious consequences for motorcyclists.
Eating or Drinking
Eating or drinking while driving can significantly impair a driver's ability to stay focused on the road. When a driver takes their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road to manage food or beverages, they become less capable of spotting potential hazards, including motorcycles.
A distracted driver who fails to notice a motorcyclist can cause a dangerous situation, especially if the motorcyclist is maneuvering through traffic or approaching an intersection.
Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/motorcycle-accident-road-traffic-1041070/