Quiz: What Kind of a Motorcycle Rider Are You?

Riders are getting their bikes out of storage and gearing up for the riding season as the Oklahoma weather warms and days get longer. If you are an experienced biker, you know that motorcyclists are more vulnerable to serious injuries in accidents than other motorists, even if you are very safety conscious.

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Here’s a quiz to test your knowledge and preconceptions about motorcycle safety in Oklahoma.

Do you wear a motorcycle helmet every time you ride?

Only riders 17 and under are required to wear a motorcycle helmet in Oklahoma. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents.  Riders who wear helmets experience significantly fewer head and neck injuries. Two thirds of the 91 riders killed in motorcycle accidents in Oklahoma in 2013 were not wearing helmets.

Do you think being a middle aged rider who is more safety conscious makes you less likely to be involved in a motorcycle accident?

Motorcyclists ages 46 to 55 represented the age group with the highest percentage of accidents involving injuries and fatalities in Oklahoma. Among motorcycle operators involved in serious and fatal accidents, one out of four (24%) were 46 to 55 years of age. Another 20 percent of riders in serious accidents were 56 to 65 years old.

Do you commute to work on your motorcycle, traveling city streets in rush hour traffic?

Thirty seven percent of motorcycle accidents involving injuries and deaths in Oklahoma occurred on city streets in 2013. That included 107 riders who suffered incapacitating injuries. The hours from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. when many people are leaving work are the most dangerous times with the highest number of motorcycle accidents causing injuries and fatalities.

Are you primarily a weekend rider who enjoys relaxing with a motorcycle ride?

It’s important to understand that Saturday is the most dangerous day of the week for riders. Motorcycles accidents involving injuries and fatalities occurred more frequently on Saturday than any other day of the week in Oklahoma. The next most dangerous day is Sunday, followed by Friday.

Have you driven your motorcycle at a speed of more than 80 miles per hour in the past 12 months?

A fourth of riders involved in motorcycle accidents that caused serious injuries or fatal injuries in Oklahoma in 2013 were driving at an unsafe speed.

As a rider, do you like to take curves fast without applying your brakes?

Forty percent of Oklahoma motorcyclists injured or killed in crashes that involve excessive speeds were driving at unsafe speeds in a turn or curve.

Do you leave enough distance between your motorcycle and the vehicle in front to avoid an accident if the driver stopped suddenly?

Following too closely is a factor in many motorcycle accidents. Typically, a two-second following distance should be maintained to provide a cushion of space to stop or swerve if the driver in front of you stops unexpectedly. If the pavement is slippery, you should allow greater following distance because it will take longer to stop.

Do you dress in black when riding or do you try to make yourself more visible to other motorists?

Many crashes occur because other drivers fail to see a motorcycle. It’s important to wear bright colored, reflective clothing even during the day to make yourself as visible as possible as a motorcyclist. Bright colors such as bright orange, red, yellow, or green provide the most visibility. Reflective material on the sides of a helmet also helps other drivers spot you.

Do you live in one of the counties with high numbers of motorcycle accidents?

Oklahoma’s two most populous counties —Oklahoma County and Tulsa County—accounted for nearly a third of the total number of motorcycle accidents for the entire state in 2013. Oklahoma County had 313 accidents and Tulsa had 291.

Are you a supporter of the Downed Bikers Association?

The Downed Bikers’ Association in a non-profit group with a mission of coming to the aid and providing financial and emotional support to downed bikers and their families.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another motorist, let an experienced Oklahoma motorcycle accident lawyer review the specifics of your accident at no charge and explain your legal options. You may have a legal right to claim compensation.

Sources: Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
Oklahoma Department of Motor Vehicles: Oklahoma Motorcycle Operator Manual