Motorcycle safety for cars and drivers could be better. It’s not just down to motorcyclists to keep themselves safe on the road. We all have a duty of care to each other.

Two thirds of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists happen on rural roads. And 39% of motorcyclist fatalities involve a car. UK drivers are some of the safest in the world, but we could drive a little better for our friends and family on two wheels. It’s one of the reasons behind the ‘travel like you know them’ road safety campaign in early 2023.

Passing distances, staying aware of blind spots, and double-checking for motorcyclists at intersections are a few of the obvious ways drivers can improve safety for riders. Read on for the best common-sense and not-so-obvious motorcycle safety tips for car drivers.

The picture of motorcycle safety on UK roads

Accident figures for motorcyclists are sobering. Numbers went down in 2020. No doubt, less traffic overall through the COVID-19 years was part of the reason. Since we’ve returned to our usual lifestyles, figures have risen again. In 2022, total accidents involving a motorcyclist reached 16,943—that’s roughly the same as 2018’s numbers.

All of us, motorcyclists, cyclists, car and truck drivers can improve motorcycle safety. The following motorcycle safety tips for car drivers will help you do just that.

Top motorcycle safety tips for car drivers

• Space Give motorcycles the space they need. A blast of wind, potholes in the road, and other unexpected hazards mean motorcyclists may swerve unexpectedly. By allowing them a little more space, makes it less likely an unexpected hazard will become a life-threatening situation.

• Share the road Although motorcycles are smaller than cars, vans or trucks, they still need room to manoeuvre in their lanes. Never force a motorcyclist to share your lane.

Remember that motorcyclists are allowed to filter past slower vehicles. If you notice a motorcycle coming up behind  you in a line of traffic, make room for them. It helps you get where you are going faster too.

• Pay attention to indicators Not all motorcycle indicators automatically switch off. Motorbikes didn’t start seeing this technology until the 70s, so classic motorcycles rely on riders to switch indicators off after a turn. We all forget to check indicators sometimes, so give motorcyclists a little grace.

If you see a motorcyclist indicating, make sure they’re actually turning before pulling out, passing, or if you’re following an indicating motorcyclist, increase the distance between you so you’ll have more reaction time when they turn.

• Look, and look again Motorcyclists can be difficult to see. When merging, turning at a junction, or turning right across traffic, always look first and then take a second glance for motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists crashing into right-turning cars and vehicles can be nasty. So take extra care at junctions. Always look. And then look again for motorcyclists.

• Slow down and be cautious on rural roads Remember how rural roads are some of the most dangerous for our two-wheeled friends? Make them safer by sticking to the speed limit and pay particular attention to motorcyclists.

Tiny rural B roads can be pockmarked with broken tarmac, potholes and clumps of mud from tractors. All of these may mean a motorcycle has to move across their lane to avoid the hazard. Riders are safer doing this when larger traffic is travelling at a speed they can easily react to and accommodate their moves at.

• Make visual checks of blind spots Don’t only rely on your car’s sensors to let you know about obstacles in your blind spots. Glance over your shoulder before changing lanes or turning to make sure there’s not a motorbike rider close behind.

Motorcycle riders can be harder to see. They’re smaller and sometimes blend into the background in rear vision mirrors. Taking a brief moment to turn and check makes the roads safer for riders.

• Consider the weather Lashing rain, howling wind, snow and ice are hard to drive in, see the road and keep control of your vehicle. It’s even harder for motorbike riders. Take it easier when driving in these conditions, drive a little slower and give motorcyclists more space.

• Blinded by the lights Night time riding adds another layer of hazards for motorcyclists. Improve their safety by dipping headlights for approaching motorcycles and cars. Add a little more distance when following riders so your headlights don’t blind them in their mirrors!
• Signal your manoeuvres Indicate with care to let motorcyclists know what you’re up to. Use the three-second rule before turning, merging or passing so your actions are noticed and catered for. That’s flipping your indicator on, counting to three with elephants in between and then making your move.

An updated Highway Code to improve road safety

Back in January 2022, the UK Highway Code had an update. The idea behind the changes was to keep vulnerable road users safer from cars, vans and trucks. It’s a fair point too. Motorcycle safety for cars, vans and larger vehicles should be a priority. Drivers have a little more protection from airbags, the big metal box around them, and other vehicle safety technology. We should look out for vulnerable motorcycle and scooter riders as well as cyclists.
Rules 204 to 225 of the Highway Code had a refresh. Drivers are advised to take extra care, look out for motorcyclists and cyclists in traffic and give them a little more space in traffic. This excerpt from Rule 211 about motorcycle safety for cars gives a few additional tips:

“It is often difficult to see motorcyclists and cyclists, especially when they are waiting alongside you, coming up from behind, coming out of or moving off from junctions, at roundabouts, overtaking you or filtering through traffic. Always look out for them before you emerge from a junction; they could be approaching faster than you think.” – Highway Code Rule 211

Take a course to improve motorcycle safety

Aside from taking your Compulsory Basic Training to learn to ride a motorcycle yourself, how do you really appreciate the challenges of motorcyclists? There are plenty of Advance Rider Courses for motorcyclists to improve skills, but what about Advanced Driver Courses?

Biker Down! will give you a great appreciation of the kinds of hazards bikers face every day. It will also give you the skills and knowledge you need to respond well if you’re first on the scene of a motorcycle accident. You can be a car driver, motorcyclist or any other type of road user to take this course.

IAM RoadSmart provides advanced driver courses for new licence holders, experienced drivers and mature drivers. These courses kick-off with an assessment and then focus on building strengths and addressing driving weaknesses. They’ll make you a safer driver for motorcyclists and other road users too.

The DVSA offers ways to improve motorcycle safety for car drivers too. Pass Plus training will help you to become a safer and more competent driver. Meeting the required standard in all six modules could also land you with cheaper insurance premiums.

Road safety is a big deal. Around 5 people die each day on UK roads and another 82 are seriously injured. That’s not great. All of us, car drivers, motorcycle riders, van and truck professionals can make the roads safer if we take time to show we care about the people sharing the road with us. Learning about motorcycle safety for cars improves road safety for everyone.