Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 9
May 19, 2014
Lesson 9: Motorcycle Clubs Are Not Criminal Gangs
Contrary to popular belief, motorcycle clubs (MC’s) are not criminal gangs. In fact, as a whole, the motorcycle community donates more to the needy than any law enforcement agency in the United States. Bikers giving to charities might not make a great plot for Sons of Anarchy, but it’s a lot closer to the truth than any TV show. So, look twice to save a life, because that biker might just be donating to a cause that could one day save you.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 8
May 16, 2014
Lesson 8: Don’t leave it all up to the mirrors
When changing lanes, a driver should never rely solely on side and rear view mirrors. A blind spot exists on every vehicle, big or small, and nothing short of a full glance over the shoulder can ensure a safe lane change. Even if you think your mirror positioning is so perfect it can detect everything, chances are you won’t be able to spot a motorcycle in your blind spot. So always be sure to take a quick look over the shoulder, hit the blinker, and change lanes safely!
A big THANK YOU! to Bikers Against Texting for the picture-perfect image of this age-old lesson. Be sure give these guys a like in support of the cause.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 7
May 14, 2014
Lesson 7: Don’t Text and Drive
For motorcyclists, there are few things more hated than TWIT’s (people who Text While In Traffic). This common distraction causes lane drifting, late braking, erratic navigation and all the other usual hazards of driving while distracted, most notably, traffic collisions. So, toss that phone in the back seat while you’re on the road and keep your eyes and mind on the task at hand: driving.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 6
May 13, 2014
Lesson 6: Don’t Throw Anything Out the Window!
First of all, trash should never go out the window. Littering is both illegal and immoral. That’s a no-brainer. However, drivers also ditch compostable food such as fruits and vegetables, as well as dump out their ice or drinks while driving.
Now, imagine what might happen if your leftover ice or thrown-out banana peel landed in front of an unassuming biker. Anything that goes out the window poses a big threat to motorcyclists behind you, whether it hits them or lands on the ground and becomes a road hazard.
Another dangerous and often-unconsidered hazard is cigarette butts. Drivers often flick these out the window without a second thought, and they have been known to get stuck in motorcycle helmets or worse (for those riding without a visor or no helmet at all). Besides the risk to motorcyclists behind you, cigarette butts can also cause wildfires.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Hill Country Driving Tips
May 11, 2014
Lesson 5: Hill Country Driving Tips
The weather is beautiful and the spring flowers are out, so take the scenic route safely with these hill country driving tips!
Curvy, hilly, winding country roads are a biker’s natural habitat. The killer combination of low traffic and natural hill country beauty make them ideal for summer rides. When driving on these scenic routes, it would be wise to learn a few tips about motorcycle awareness.
The hill country landscape is a tricky one. Tight curves and hills are great at blocking your view. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain your lane and take extra caution when making left-hand turns.
Driving slowly always makes the road safer. Take this critical tip to heart when driving through the hill country, since narrow roads and low-speed curves can be especially dangerous. Some motorcyclists tend to veer very close to the center stripe when they misjudge a curve… as do plenty of cars. So, it’s always best to just take it easy and drive a little slower.
Finally, when driving behind bikers, be sure to give them plenty of space. The blocked views from hills and curves can result in sudden deceleration, and since motorcycles can slow down much quicker than cars, drivers should always allow plenty of following distance.
Now mind those winding roads and have a safe drive!
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 3
May 9, 2014
Lesson 3: Are their brake lights out?
Have you ever noticed that most motorcycles slow down with no visual warning (brake light)? You might have been in traffic, or pulled up to a stoplight, and wondered “Why didn’t that biker’s brake lights turn on? Are they busted?”.
More than likely, their brake lights work just fine, they just aren’t using their brakes. Most bikers avoid using their brakes when slowing down or approaching an intersection. Instead, they utilize a downshifting strategy to reduce speed, and therefore have no need for brakes or brake lights.
So, the next time you find yourself driving behind a motorcycle make sure you give them plenty of space. Since most drivers have been conditioned to respond to brake lights, it can more difficult to notice a biker’s deceleration without the bright red lights there as a warning.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 2
May 8, 2014
Lesson 2: Deadly Left-Hand Turns
Left-hand turns account for more than half of two-vehicle motorcycle collisions, and result in many motorcycle fatalities each year. Due to limited visibility, motorcycles – as well as cyclists and pedestrians – are at a much higher risk when passing through intersections. For this reason, always be sure to take extra caution when making a left hand turn.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 1
May 7, 2014
Lesson 1: Why is that scary biker honking at me?
One day, you were driving down the road, minding your own business, when suddenly you heard a motorcycle engine roar, a horn honk, and looked over to see a leather-clad biker passing you with startling speed. At the time, you might have wondered, “Why is that scary biker honking at me?”
Well, first of all, the biker isn’t scary just because he/she is wearing leather. Tough leather jackets help protect motorcyclists from road rash in the event of a crash. But, to answer the initial question: most bikers honk at cars to let them know they are there. The motorcyclist may be trying to escape your blind spot, hence the honking and quick acceleration. Simple as that.
So, the next time you hear a honk and notice it is a motorcycle passing you by, politely share the road and give that conscientious biker a friendly wave.
Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless
May 6, 2014
Some drivers are just clueless about the lives of motorcyclists. They have no idea what the roads look like from the perspective of two-wheelers, and no sense of the dangers faced by riders every day. And, why should they? There certainly aren’t any questions about motorcycles on the drivers license test, or any motorcycle awareness classes required before sharing the road with these fearless riders.
It’s O.K. to be a clueless driver, that is, it’s not your fault. However, ignorance is NOT bliss when it comes to sharing the road with motorcyclists, because the less you know the more likely you are to be involved in an accident with a motorcycle. Since the fatality rate in motorcycle collisions is so high, this devastating experience is not something you want to happen, ever.
And so, in honor of Motorcycle Awareness Month, we’ll be featuring a daily lesson in Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless. This is for all you drivers out there, especially those who have never experienced the thrill of being on a motorcycle personally.
Tune in tomorrow for our first lesson: Why is that scary biker honking at me?