The month of May is designated as Motorcycle Awareness Month. All around the country, individual states will be focusing a spotlight on motorcyclists, encouraging them to be more vigilant about safety while educating motorists on recognizing and respecting motorcycles on the road. The National Safety Council wants to remind everyone to share the road with motorcyclists and to be extra alert. Why is May “Motorcycle Awareness Month?” As the weather warms up and riding conditions improve, more and more people will pull their bikes out of the garage and hit the road. That also means that rallies, festivals, and bike weeks will be plentiful – drawing motorcyclists from around the country. It also signals the beginning of a season with increased motorcycle accidents.
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month for all drivers
According to the Department of Transportation, there are over 8 million registered motorcycles in the U.S. That means that approximately one out of every 36 people you meet owns a motorcycle. More motorcycles on the road often mean more motorcycle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2014 more than 92,000 motorcyclists were injured in accidents and over 4500 were killed. Motorcyclists are 35% more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those in passenger vehicles. Of those fatal motorcycle accidents, head injury is the leading cause of death – and driver distraction is a common cause.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and an additional 431,000 were injured in collisions involving distracted drivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.” To combat distracted driving accidents, the NHTSA started a national advertising campaign and law enforcement crackdown called U Drive. U Text. U Pay. The campaign is aimed at combating distracted driving nationwide. Drivers that are caught texting or using their mobile devices when behind the wheel will be issued citations in states with distracted driving bans.
You can help decrease motorcycle accidents by remaining vigilant when driving and watching out for motorcyclists on the road. Consider the following tips to help keep our roads safe for ALL drivers.
Motorists Share the Road with Motorcyclists
- Motorcycles often hide in blind spots due to their low profiles. All drivers should check rearview mirrors and side mirrors before switching lanes
- Allow yourself a larger distance when riding behind a motorcycle to avoid devastating and fatal rear-end accidents.
- When entering intersections, be extra careful. A large number of crashes involving a motorist and a motorcyclist occur when the motorist does not see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of him/her.
- Never text and drive – to be safe, place the phone out of your reach
- Never drink and drive.
Motorcyclists Share the Road with Motorists
- Position yourself within the lane so that you are not in anyone’s blind spot
- Every time you change lanes or make a turn be sure to use turn signals
- Make sure not to tailgate behind another vehicle. Give yourself plenty of time to stop in emergencies
- Never exceed the speed limit—especially when navigating turns
- Never ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
At the Law Tigers, we are looking forward to the summer and hitting the road with many of our fellow riders. We hope it is a great and successful riding season for everyone. And if you ever need the Law Tigers – we are here for you. Just call 1-888-863-7216
We Watch Over Our Own
The Law Tigers
