Riding a Motorcycle in the Rain Can Be Risky. Here’s What South Carolina Bikers Need to Know

South Carolina receives 50 inches of rain per year on average, making it one of the nation’s most rainy states. Some areas of the state get more rain than others. Coastal areas can receive 80 inches or more in a year; in 2018, Walhalla State Fish Hatchery in Oconee County recorded over 123 inches!

All this rain contributes to South Carolina’s lush natural vegetation, supporting healthy wildlife and ecosystems. Yet it also poses challenges, especially for motorcyclists. Here’s what South Carolina bikers need to know.

Why It’s Risky to Ride a Motorcycle in the Rain

About 47 percent of all weather-related roadway accidents occur during rainfall, according to the Federal Highway Administration. These crashes lead to over 3,400 deaths and over 357,000 injuries nationwide each year. 

Slippery Roads

Rain leads to wet pavement. Wet pavement is more slippery than dry pavement, increasing the crash risk. 

Wet pavement can be especially risky for motorcyclists. Passenger vehicles have four tires to grab the pavement and maintain traction; semi-trucks may have 18 wheels. In comparison, a motorcycle has only two small tires. Skidding is more likely to occur while driving a motorcycle. In an emergency, a biker may not be able to apply enough brake pressure on wet pavement in order to stop in time. Too much braking on wet roads can result in loss of control of the bike and severe skidding. 

Wet pavement can double or triple the time needed to stop a vehicle. Wet pavement covered in debris, such as wet leaves, can increase a car’s required stopping time from 3-4 seconds to as much as 12 seconds. When drivers do not adjust for this increased stopping time, they can easily cause a crash with a motorcyclist. 

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that 75 percent of all weather-related vehicle crashes occur on wet pavement. Whether it’s actively raining or has recently stopped, wet pavement poses risks for motorcyclists. 

Lastly, the oil left behind by vehicles on the road, when mixed with rain, becomes a huge hazard to motorcyclists. This danger is especially severe when rain first begins and on exit ramps and on ramps when bikers are braking and accelerating. 

Low Visibility 

Rain can reduce visibility in several ways. Rain can appear during cloudy or stormy weather when light levels are lower. Accompanying fog can also reduce visibility. Rain itself can make it tougher for drivers to see the road as well, especially if it is raining heavily. 

Lowered visibility causes drivers to vary their driving speed, which can increase the risk of a crash. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that over 600 people die and over 16,300 are injured in crashes involving low visibility each year.

Motorcyclists already understand that their small size makes it tougher for other drivers to spot them. Unless drivers take extra care in rainy weather, they may cause a collision with a motorcyclist. 

In addition, bikers may also be struggling to see. Motorcycle windshields don’t usually have windshield wipers and helmets with face shields are also hard to see through in the rain and require constant wiping to keep them clear.

Unexpected or Sudden Dangers

As the saying goes, “If it’s not raining in South Carolina, wait five minutes.” Rain can occur suddenly and unexpectedly in South Carolina. When it does occur, rainfall can produce a host of additional roadway hazards. 

Sudden flooding from blocked storm drains and other sources can submerge one or more vehicle lanes, creating a hazard for motorcyclists and other drivers. Motorists who swerve to avoid a large puddle or other obstruction may swerve into a motorcyclist if they don’t carefully check that their way is clear before moving. Landslides, fallen limbs from storm damage, wet leaves, and other roadway hazards also increase the risk of an accident for motorcyclists. 

Legal Considerations When Riding in the Rain

South Carolina law does not prohibit motorcyclists from riding their bikes in the rain. However, it does require everyone who uses the state’s roadways to follow traffic laws and exercise reasonable care to prevent accidents. 

When a driver fails to use reasonable care, an accident may result. This accident can cause serious injuries to a motorcyclist. To recover compensation for accident-related injuries, the motorcyclist and their knowledgeable South Carolina motorcycle accident attorney will need to answer several questions, including: 

• Did the at-fault driver owe the motorcyclist a duty of care? All drivers on public roads owe other road users a duty of care to follow road laws and operate vehicles safely to avoid accidents. 
• Did the at-fault driver fail to meet their duty? Motorcyclists injured by a driver who failed to meet their duty of care are typically owed compensation for accident-related losses. Driving too fast for conditions – like rain – is one example of a failure to meet the duty of care when driving. 
• Did the at-fault driver’s failure to meet their duty cause harm to the motorcyclist? Common losses in motorcycle accidents include medical bills, lost wages, damage to the bike, and pain and suffering. 

Tips from an Expert

We recently consulted a local South Carolina expert with over 50 years of motorcycle riding experience who is also a professional driver. His recommendations for riding in the rain include:

1. Slow down. Being in a hurry is the cause of many wrecks.
2. If you are caught in a hard rain, park it and wait it out.
3. If it is raining, don’t go.
4. When you use your bike for transportation needs rather than enjoyment, it puts a different spin on the urgency and pressure to be somewhere such as work. If it’s raining and you use your bike for transportation reasons, try to find an alternative way to get to work. 
5. If you must ride in weather, be sure to have the proper rain gear including pants and a waterproof jacket. Riding in any weather on a motorcycle usually feels 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the actual temperature. If you are wet, it will feel even colder. If you have saddlebags, a change of clothing is also a good idea. 

Steinberg Law Firm Represents Injured Bikers

If you’ve been injured in a rainy-weather motorcycle crash, don’t wait. Talk to the team at the Steinberg Law Firm today. We’ll help you understand and protect your legal rights as we seek compensation for your losses. We offer free consultations and no fee until we secure compensation for you.