Arizona Motorcycle Lawyer for Risks to Motorcyclists in Construction Zones

For motorists in Phoenix, workers, equipment, and exposed substrate have been a familiar sight over the past decade of rapid growth. Many roads in Chandler, Glendale and other cities in the Phoenix metro area are undergoing construction and improvement. This constant expansion helps bolster the area’s transportation network and can improve efficiency and safety. But, the construction sites themselves pose dangerous risks to motorcyclists. Motorcyclists should be aware of the potential risks when navigating construction zones in order to avoid collision or injury.

When approaching construction zones, speed can suddenly drop by 20 miles per hour or more. The presence of traffic congestion can make the drop even more sudden. This rapid change in traffic speed is known as “speed differential.” The "Motorcycle Accidents in Depth Study" (MAIDS) reports speed differential was a contributing factor in 18% of the motorcycle accidents studied.  Approaching construction zones, motorcyclists may face several risks resulting from this change in speed.

The speed differential approaching construction zones is hazardous because the flow of traffic is disrupted and many motorists are forced to react quickly. Drivers may make rapid lane changes or brake suddenly. All of these reactions are disproportionately more dangerous for motorcyclists because of the tendency for other drivers to "just not see them" and merge into their lane or cause a rear-end collision.

Construction can often cause unexpected detours and diversions on the roadway. The number of available lanes may also decrease. In these situations, confused drivers may make sudden lane changes or drift into a motorcyclist’s path. The risk of side swipe accidents increases as drivers are suddenly pressured to make quick decisions and may not check their blind spots. Additionally, when a motorcyclist is distracted by the changing roadway, he or she may be unable to react to another driver’s mistake in time to avoid a collision.

Construction zones can place an extra burden on the motorcyclist’s sense of balance by slowing travel to extremely low speeds. When workers are present during congested traffic, traveling speed may slow to a crawl. At these low speeds, the task of keeping the bike stable can distract a motorcyclist from the already difficult task of staying alert for other risks and driving defensively.

Construction zones may also contain hazardous debris that could cause a motorcyclist to lose control. Large trucks carrying gravel or other supplies can lose parts of their load as they enter and exit construction zones. A motorcyclist can suddenly encounter gravel or dirt on the roadway, causing a decrease in traction. This situation is particularly dangerous at curves or if a motorcyclist needs to swerve or brake suddenly. Less traction increases stopping distance and the risk of losing control of the motorcycle. A motorcyclist is also less able to perform avoidance maneuvers to dodge faults in the roadway or avoid a collision.

If you have been injured by a negligent motorist or an unsafe roadway while riding a motorcycle in a construction zone in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, it is recommended that you contact an experienced Arizona motorcycle attorney to discuss your case. For more information on motorcycle accidents in Arizona, please visithttp://www.azmotorcycleaccidentlawyer.com/

European Safety Study Finds Familiar Causes for Motorcycle Accidents, http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/newsandupdates/european_motorcycle_safety_study/index.html (2009)