Driving on Texas roadways can provide a sense of freedom (as long as there isn’t too much traffic). On a nice day, going for a drive can be a relaxing or energizing experience, especially for individuals like you who enjoy motorcycle riding.
Of course, you understand that safety is of the utmost importance when you are on the road because a single mishap could potentially leave you with serious or fatal injuries. As a result, you do your best to adhere to the law and make sure that any driving maneuver you carry out is with focus and care.
Tips on passing
In some cases, you may feel the need to pass another vehicle, and having a refresher on safety tips for passing is always beneficial. When considering passing another vehicle, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it legal to pass? If the road has double yellow lines or a solid yellow line on your side of the road, you are not in a legal passing area. The same goes for areas with signs that say “Do Not Pass” or “No Passing Zone.”
- Is there a bridge or railroad crossing ahead? It can be both dangerous and possibly illegal to attempt to pass a vehicle within 100 feet of a bridge or railroad crossing.
- Are you going over a hill or through a curve? This type of driving terrain limits your line of sight, and you may not see oncoming traffic, making it dangerous or even reckless to try to pass another vehicle.
- Would you need to exceed the speed limit to pass? If passing the vehicle in front of you would mean that you need to travel over the posted speed limit, the maneuver is illegal.
- What is the weather like? Inclement weather means that drivers need to make various accommodations, and that also means that you may not need to pass a vehicle in heavy rain or fog, even if you are in a legal passing zone.
As a motorcyclist, you do not want to put your life in jeopardy simply to pass another vehicle. Unfortunately, another driver attempting to pass could cause you serious harm if he or she does not see you approaching or otherwise passes in a way that results in a crash in which you are involved. If this happens, you may want to look into your legal options for seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the incident.