Riding a motorcycle gives you a feeling of freedom you can’t get in a car, but it’s also far more dangerous. Unlike car drivers, you don’t have airbags, steel frames, or the stabilization provided by four wheels. A slick patch of asphalt, a strong wind, or a pothole can turn a standard ride into a life-altering crash. Since motorcycle injuries tend to be more severe, accidents frequently result in fatalities and permanent disabilities.
To protect yourself as much as possible, it’s crucial to drive with the awareness of dangerous road hazards and weather conditions.
Rain is a common hazard
Out of all weather conditions, motorcyclists are particularly at risk when it rains. Although most accidents happen in dry weather, rain contributes to 10% of all motorcycle crashes. Water creates a slick barrier between the tires and pavement, making stopping distances longer and increasing the risk of hydroplaning. It’s even more dangerous for a motorcycle to hydroplane than it is for a car.
When it rains, the water lifts oil and grime to the surface, which makes roads especially dangerous. And where visibility is concerned, rain presents some challenges. For example, motorcycles are hard enough to see on sunny days. Add rain, and they practically disappear from a driver’s sight.
To drive safely in the rain, slow down and ease into accelerating and braking. Double your following distances to give yourself more time to stop and avoid cars that suddenly brake. Avoid riding on painted roads (like crosswalks) and metal surfaces (like manhole covers and bridge gates) because they become slick in the rain.
Wind is the invisible enemy
Strong gusts of wind can push a motorcycle unexpectedly and cause the rider to lose balance or unintentionally drift across lanes. These gusts can come from anywhere and can happen between vehicles, on overpasses, or in open areas. Larger vehicles create wind tunnels, so it’s important to be extra cautious when passing large trucks.
If you feel gusts of wind, lean into them slightly without overcompensating to stay centered in your lane.
Potholes, sand, and gravel are the enemy
Potholes can be destructive to cars, but they’re far more dangerous to motorcycles. Cars can bounce over a pothole they didn’t see coming and emerge with a damaged tire or rim at most, but if a motorcyclist hits a pothole, they can lose control and be thrown off their bike.
Loose gravel and sand are just as bad. Turning a corner can be slippery even for experienced riders. And debris in the road – like a mattress or a hubcap that fell off a car – can be a deadly obstacle for a motorcycle rider.
If you must drive on gravel, go slowly and keep a light grip to allow the bike to “float” under you. Make small corrections rather than trying to force the bike to drive straight.
Winter hazards are particularly dangerous
Cold weather multiplies the risk of a crash for motorcyclists. For instance, snow limits visibility, conceals road hazards, and reduces traction while riding. When it gets packed down into ice, the danger increases.
Even a small icy patch can cause a motorcyclist to lose control, but black ice – ice that’s nearly invisible – poses an even bigger threat. Your best option here is to have a bike built for driving in the snow, learn how to ride safely, and avoid driving in winter conditions unless absolutely necessary.
Nighttime increases these risks
All of these weather-related risks are greatly inflated at night when visibility is limited. Headlights and streetlamps don’t always power through rain and fog, making motorcyclists even harder to see at night. Wet pavement reflects headlights and can blind riders at the worst moments. There’s also a risk of encountering wild animals on the roads, and in the dark, it’s harder to see them in time to stop.
Protect yourself at all times
The weather is unpredictable at times, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for it. It’s crucial to invest in proper riding gear like waterproof jackets, boots, gloves, anti-fog visors, and a helmet. It also helps to buy quality tires with proper tread depth to improve traction in wet weather. Most importantly, sometimes the smartest way to reduce the risk of a motorcycle accident is not riding at all in extreme weather conditions.
You can’t change the weather, but you can make good decisions
For motorcyclists, hazards that barely register for car drivers can be deadly. Never underestimate the potential danger of rain, wind, ice, road debris, and darkness. You can’t control the weather, but you can choose to protect yourself and know when to stay home.
