If you are a motorcycle rider, the most important law for you to know is that:
"Every person operating a motorcycle shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this title..."
You have the rights and privileges of automobile drivers, such as:
Right to use of lane – All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle the full use of a lane.
Since motorcycles are smaller and more narrow than automobiles, these rules apply:
Operation between lanes or vehicles – No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.
Limitations on operating abreast – Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.
Philadelphia, PA Motorcycle Injury Attorneys
Other rules are there to ensure the safety of motorcyclists.
- Eye protection is required, since a bike has no windshield. Insects, pebbles, debris of all kinds may fly into a rider's face and loss of vision even for a moment can be dangerous or fatal.
- Helmet speakers are prohibited for music or other purposes besides communication.
- For greater visibility, a headlight is required to be on both day and night, except for models built before 1973.
- Right and left mirrors are required, just as auto drivers have both rear-view and left-side mirrors.
A helmet is not required in Pennsylvania for experienced riders. Contact us for more information.
As with automobile drivers, speed kills. You are less likely to cause damage to persons and property, but for you own sake, observe speed limits. Slamming on the brakes on a motorcycle is likely to cause loss of control and crash. It is harder to stop or swerve to avoid an collision the faster you are travelling.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact a Philadelphia auto accident law firm experienced in personal injury and motorcycle injury cases.
