As we move closer to fall in New York, motorcyclists are going to enjoy one of the most beautiful seasons. It can be a great time to go out on your bike, enjoying the cooling weather and roads that are relatively empty as students head back to school.
However, fall also carries some unique dangers that you may not have encountered while you were riding in the summer – or at least not as often. This is why it’s so important to know how to be careful and ride safely as the seasons change.
Weather changes
One big issue that crops up is simply that the weather changes. It’s more likely you’ll encounter wind, fog and rain. These things can make visibility lower, and they can make the pavement slick, both of which make accidents more likely.
Shorter days
The fall also brings shorter days and longer nights. It’s been shown many times that riding at night is more dangerous than riding during the day. This is also true for people and cars, but motorcyclists need to be especially wary because they have smaller vehicles that are already hard to see.
Impaired drivers
You also may want to watch out for impaired drivers, especially on the weekends. The fall means the beginning of the NFL football season, along with the college football season. Many people who go to these events like to share drinks with friends, and this can lead to a spike in drunk driving incidents.
If you do get involved in an accident on your motorcycle and suffer serious injuries, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other costs.