If you have a motorcycle, you probably enjoy getting out on the road and opening up your throttle. And if you’ve been riding for some time, you likely trust your ability to handle your bike safely in a variety of situations.
You might be excited to think about the recently-introduced lane splitting bill. If passed into law, Senate Bill 629 would make Connecticut the second state in the country to allow operating your motorcycle between lanes of traffic. But regardless of whether the bill passes, you might consider if doing so would be safe.
Is there really that much of a safety difference between cars and motorcycles?
Many bikers ride for years without getting into an accident. But lacking the steel frame and airbags a car provides, a bike leaves you exposed.
As it stands, lane splitting is only allowed in California. And although there are numerous differences in population and traffic patterns between the two states, California experienced 566 motorcyclist fatalities in 2016, while in Connecticut there were 52. But in addition to fatal accidents, you should think about the injuries you could sustain in a motorcycle accident.
You could suffer from common motorcycle-related injuries
No matter your skill level or amount of experience, if you are involved in a motorcycle accident, you could face severe injuries. These might include:
- Spinal cord injuries, which may result in paralysis and permanent disability
- Traumatic brain injury, due to a significant blow to your head
- Broken bones, especially in your legs, ankles and feet
- Internal bleeding, caused by blunt-force trauma
- Abrasions, or “road rash” from scraping across the pavement if you have to lay your bike down to avoid colliding with another driver
When you ride your motorcycle, you must constantly be aware of, and think about, what is happening around you. However, if you suffer because of another driver’s negligence, you may want to hold them accountable.
