You may not have ever been in a motorcycle accident involving grass clippings, but you could be if you don’t understand how serious this issue is. While passenger cars and other four-wheeled vehicles have little trouble traversing over grass, motorcycles have a harder time. Because grass is 85% water, it’s slick, and driving over a slick surface can cause a motorcycle to lose traction. It can be hard to steer and the motorcyclist can lose control, crashing into something and suffering serious injuries.

While piles of grass may be found on suburban roads, most motorcyclists face the dangers of grass in rural areas, where pavement is less common. They may be traveling on dirt roads and see no issue with driving over grass until they lose traction.

Grass clippings may not seem like major issues, but they create more of a danger than you would expect because they create an extra layer between the motorcycle tire and the road. It is almost as dangerous as an oil slick. It is especially dangerous on turns, in which the rider may be leaning into the turn. It’s possible for the bike to actually come out from underneath the rider.

These are things motorcyclists need to be aware of, since many people are unaware of the dangers of leaving grass clippings or leaves in the road.