West Plains, Mo. – One man was injured in a motorcycle accident on Porter Wagoner Boulevard in West Plains this morning. The accident occurred at 9:20 a.m. at the intersection of Gibson Avenue.
A grey sedan attempted to turn from Gibson onto Porter Wagoner traveling northward and traveled into the path of a Honda Motorcycle. The motorcycle driver managed to avoid a collision with the car but wrecked the bike in the process. The male driver was taken by ambulance to Ozarks Healthcare for treatment.
With sunny and warm weather returning to the Ozarks, drivers are encouraged to remain mindful of motorcycles on the roadways.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers the following tips to drivers on how to prevent a fatal crash with a motorcycle:
- Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.
- Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
- Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.
- Never drive distracted or impaired.
Motorcyclists must also take precautions to remain safe on the road. Motorcyclists can increase their safety by following these steps:
- Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear.
- Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed and trained.
- Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility.
- Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers.
- Never ride distracted or impaired.
- Anticipate the moves of other drivers and be extra cautious of road conditions and debris.
