One of the most common crash types resulting in motorcycle injuries, particularly in urban areas, is the ‘right turn against’ crash – when a car turns in front of a motorcyclist traveling straight.
This crash type also occurs between cars and with cars and cyclists, but motorcyclists are overrepresented due to:
- Visibility issues: Motorcyclists are smaller and harder to see. They may be obscured by other turning vehicles or the car’s A-pillar.
- Vulnerability and speed: Unlike cyclists, motorcyclists travel at similar speeds to cars but lack the protective structure that cars provide.
Human factors also play a role. Motorcyclists are less common on the road network, meaning drivers may not instinctively look out for them, resulting in slower cognitive processing. What can we do to reduce these crashes?
- Implement fully controlled right turns to avoid conflicting paths of travel.
- Minimise opportunities for dynamic visual obstructions (e.g., vehicles blocking sightlines).
- Ensure road surfaces maintain good skid resistance to give motorcyclists a better chance to brake effectively.
- Reduce speeds to lower the likelihood and severity of crashes.
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