MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS

As the weather improves, more and more motorcycle riders are hitting the roads throughout the country. By encouraging safe riding and cooperation between all motorists and motorcyclists, we can reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways.

“Share the Road”

Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the roadway.

Riders need to make themselves "high-viz" or "visible." Draw attention to themselves even if other drivers may not be actively looking.

Approximately one-half of all motorcycle crashes involve another motor vehicle. Nearly 40 percent of those crashes were caused by the other vehicle turning left in front of the motorcyclist.

Helmets save lives –

All DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, the performance standard which establishes the minimum level of protection helmets must afford each user.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,784 motorcyclists in 2007. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 800 lives could have been saved.

Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.

For every 100 motorcyclists killed in crashes while not wearing a helmet, 37 of them could have been saved had all 100 worn helmets.

Motorcyclist Conspicuity

* Wear brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet. Red, yellow, orange, and white are highly visible and help a rider stand out.

* Strategically use your lane position to see and be seen.

* Use reflective tape and stickers to make you more visible to other motorists.

* Use turn signals for every turn or lane change, even if you think no one will see it.

* Combine hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to yourself.

Motorist “Share the Road” Checklist

Motorists should:

* Expect to see motorcycles at any time, and search aggressively for them .

* Check their mirrors and blind spot before merging or changing lanes, especially in heavy traffic. A motorcycle can easily be hidden behind a car or truck.