Left Turn Lanes at Intersections

Intersections Present the Biggest Hazard to Riders

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently evaluated motorcycle crash statistics from 2005. That year, 4,553 motorcyclists were killed; the study focused on 1,792 crashes between a motorcycle and one passenger vehicle that resulted in a motorcycle operator fatality. Among those crashes:

• almost half occurred at intersections;
• the most common type of two-vehicle crash (501 out of the 1,792) was when the front of the motorcycle struck the side of the passenger vehicle – for example, a left-turning driver colliding with an oncoming motorcyclist in an intersection;
• only 4% of motorcyclists were responsible for right-of-way violations, compared to 35% of passenger vehicle drivers.

When you’re at a light waiting to turn left, the biggest hazard is cross traffic that might run their light after yours turns green and you enter the intersection. And, if you’re not in a “protected” turn lane (one controlled by a separate left-turn arrow light), oncoming traffic is another risk. In any case, the “best” lane position at a stoplight is the one that affords you maximum visibility of the intersection and traffic, and also maximizes the chance of you being seen by other drivers as you enter the intersection. Unless there’s an obvious slick spot in your lane, you don’t need to rule out the center portion. It’s best to evaluate each intersection on a case-by-case basis based on these factors.

Two Basic Pieces of Advice

Preventing Single-Vehicle and Two-Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes

Most single-vehicle motorcycle crashes occur when a motorcyclist runs off the road in a curve. Most two-vehicle motorcycle crashes occur when a car driver violates the motorcyclist’s right-of-way, usually in an intersection.

Therefore, we’ll boil it down to two over-arching pieces of advice, above and beyond the great strategies you may already be using:

1. To avoid solo crashes, focus on the task at hand and don’t speed in curves. No further explanation should be necessary.

2. To avoid being hit by a car, pretend you’re invisible the moment you leave your driveway. This puts you in a hyper-aware frame of mind in which you take responsibility for avoiding even the most distracted, careless driver. Even good drivers will sometimes miss seeing a motorcyclist approaching them at an intersection, because drivers only see what they expect to see: cars and trucks, not narrow motorcycles that often blend into a visually “busy” background. As an “invisible” road user, you’ll make your own mental map of your immediate surroundings and know what all the other vehicles are doing. In heavy traffic, you’ll be ever-ready to swerve or brake; you’ll cover your front brake lever to shorten your reaction time when the oblivious driver inevitably tries to occupy your space. At a stoplight, you’ll stay in first gear, check your mirrors frequently, and be ready to move out if you notice that the car approaching from behind doesn’t appear to be stopping. Though the task may seem overwhelming, it becomes second-nature with practice.