Safety tips for sharing the road with motorcycles

As soon as the weather warms up, motorcycles come back out. You tend to hear them out for their first ride before you see them. And every year, the same pattern shows up on our roads, too. We see more motorcyclists, more close calls and more crashes that didn’t need to happen.

Most of the risk isn’t about reckless riding or bad driving. It’s a blind spot that wasn’t checked or a turn that was rushed. Sometimes a bike just doesn’t register because our brain was scanning for cars. In a crash, the rider is far more likely to be hurt or killed than the person in the car. So read on to learn how to safely share the road with motorcycles.

Tip #1: Intersections and left turns

If there’s one place where motorcycles get hit most often, it’s at intersections. They’re easy to miss because your eyes are tuned to look for the shape and size of cars. A bike can easily blend into the background or get lost in the glare. And because it’s smaller than a passenger vehicle, it can look farther away and slower than it really is. Especially when making a left turn.

A motorcycle can even be riding behind a larger vehicle and stay hidden until the last second. When that vehicle clears the intersection, the bike can suddenly be right there. So when you’re turning left, make sure you check once for traffic. Then check again specifically for motorcycles. There’s literally no downside to waiting three more seconds. But there is a huge downside to turning in front of a rider who can’t stop in time.

Tip #2: Lane changes

Most “I didn’t see them” stories aren’t lies. They’re blind spots. A motorcycle can fit into blind spots easily and move through them quickly. This means that even if your mirror looked clear a moment ago, it might not be clear anymore. So when changing lanes, make sure you turn this pattern into a habit:

• Signal

• Mirrors check

• Shoulder check

• Then move

When changing into the far-left lane on a multi-lane highway, do a second shoulder check. That’s where motorcycles often travel. And don’t assume the bike is where you expect it to be. Riders shift inside their lane to avoid things like potholes, debris, wind and bad pavement. If you always assume “they’ll be in the middle,” you’ll miss them.

When you’re parked on the street

Before opening your door, always check your mirrors and do a shoulder check for approaching riders or cyclists. You can essentially force yourself to do this by using the “Dutch Reach.” This is where you open the door with your far hand so your body naturally turns and you look behind you. That way you can spot a motorcycle before you door them.

Tip #3: Following distance

Motorcycles don’t always tap the brakes when they slow down. Motorcyclists often ease off the throttle or downshift. That means the bike slows down, but the brake light never comes on. So if you’re following too closely and waiting for brake lights as your cue, you may not have enough time to react.

Keep a safe distance by giving motorcycles more room than you’d give another car. Four seconds is a good baseline. More if it’s wet, dark or busy. Rear-ending a car is frustrating. But rear-ending a motorcycle can be life-altering.

Tip #4: Passing

Passing a motorcycle takes more space than passing a car. Don’t pass close and don’t pull back in right away. A motorcycle uses the full lane. So if a rider is travelling in the right wheel track, that isn’t extra space for you. It’s still their lane.

When a car passes too near or cuts back in early, it can push air and spray toward the rider. That can make the bike wobble or lose control. This is an even bigger issue on gravel and rural roads, in construction zones or in the rain. A passing car can throw water, grit or stones straight at the rider. Waiting a few seconds and leaving more space can keep that from happening.

Why riders don’t always sit in the centre of the lane

A rider might sit in the left part of the lane so you can see them better, then shift right or centre to avoid debris or give a truck more space. So if you see a rider weaving within the lane, they’re more than likely just trying to avoid:

• Loose gravel

• Leaves and debris

• Potholes and uneven pavement

• Standing water

• Strong crosswinds on open highways

• Drifting vehicles

Add a sudden rain shower, fog or a cold snap and you’ll see riders slowing down and moving around more. Weather changes affect motorcycles more quickly than cars.

When and why motorcycle crashes are most common

Motorcycle collisions are much more common during the riding season than during the winter months. Here's what you should know:

Spring

After winter, drivers aren’t used to watching for motorcycles yet. At the same time, there’s still sand, gravel and new potholes on the roads, so riders may move around more to avoid them.

Summer

Once summer hits, motorcycles show up everywhere. There are more weekend rides, group trips and long touring routes. Watch more carefully on:

• Cottage-country roads

• Popular touring routes

• Mountain highways

Fall

Fall brings low sun in your eyes, wet leaves on the road and slick pavement. These make bikes harder to spot and harder for riders to slow down.

At night

After dark, motorcycles are easier to miss. One headlight doesn’t stand out the way two do and it’s harder to judge how far away it is.

What riders expect from drivers

Motorcyclists aren’t looking for special treatment. They just want drivers to signal, look and leave enough space. From a rider’s point of view, this is what helps most:

• Use your signal early so they can tell you’re changing lanes or turning

• Actually turn your head and check your blind spot before changing lanes

• Give motorcycles the full width of their lane instead of drifting toward them

• Ease off sooner at intersections instead of rushing the turn

• Know and expect that riders will shift around inside their lane to avoid rough pavement, debris or large vehicles

What actually changes when drivers do these things

Here’s how the same situations play out when motorists do them and when they don’t:

Sharing the road goes both ways

If you ride, there are a few things on your side that make a big difference, too:

• Avoid riding when you’re tired

• Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Make yourself easy to see by wearing reflective material and using brighter colours at dawn, dusk or in low light

• Remember to turn off your turn signal after you turn if you ride an older motorcycle that doesn’t have self-cancelling

• Consider taking a motorcycle safety course to sharpen your skills and reactions

• Wear proper protective gear, like a helmet, gloves, jacket and riding pants, that offer actual protection that shorts and a t-shirt just simply don’t

Common misconceptions about motorcycles

Here's what motorcycles can and can't do on the road:

1. Motorcycles can drive between cars in Canada

No. Riding between two lanes of slow or stopped traffic is illegal in Canada. This is known as lane splitting. While it’s legal in some parts of the U.S., riders in Canada must stay within their designated lane.

2. Motorcycles can share a lane with another vehicle

No. Two riders may ride side by side within a lane, but no car or truck should share the same lane space as a motorcycle.

3. Motorcycles have fewer rights on the roads than other vehicles

No. Riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of cars and trucks.

Contact BrokerLink today

Sharing the road safely is one part of the picture. Having the right insurance is the other. Whether you ride a motorcycle, drive a car or share the road with someone who does, a BrokerLink advisor can help you look at your options and make sure you’re covered properly before motorcycle season gets busy.

You can reach us by phone, email or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada. We also encourage you to take advantage of our free online quote tool that can provide you with a competitive quote in minutes.

Get an auto insurance quoteCall Us 1-866-724-2372

FAQs on sharing the road with motorcycles

Can a motorcycle drive between cars?

This is considered lane splitting, and is illegal in Canada. You cannot drive your motorcycle between two occupied lanes of traffic to get past them. A motorcyclist must obey the road rules just like other motorists.

Is it ok to share a lane with a motorcycle?

Motorcycles are allowed to ride side by side with a limit of two riders in a lane. This excludes other vehicles.

Do motorcycles have the same rights on the roads as other vehicles?

Motorcycle drivers have the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else on the road!