motorcycle awareness month

Motorcycle Awareness Month: A Reminder to Save Lives

May 31, 2014

As Motorcycle Awareness Month comes to an end, we’d like to remind all drivers (from 4-wheelers to 18-wheelers) to take extra care this summer, and always be aware that the road is full of 2-wheelers.

After a few years of lower motorcycle crash rates, fatalities are now on the rise again. Both motorcyclists and “cagers” need to stay AWARE! and SHARE THE ROAD!

Here are some great tips from the NHTSA on how to share the road with motorcyclists:

  • Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.
  • Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
  • Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.
  • Always allow more follow distance – three to four seconds – when behind a motorcycle. This gives them more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
  • Motorcycle signals are often non-canceling and could have been forgotten. Always ensure that the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.

You can also scroll down to read our Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless series, which features a few not-so-common lessons on sharing the road with motorcyclists.

Motorcycle Awareness Month is a time to spread the word about safe driving practices, but drivers should always remember to #drivesafe if they want to help save lives!

Motorcycle Awareness for the Clueless – Lesson 4

May 10, 2014

Lesson 4: Pick a Lane

Changing lanes during motorcycle season is risky business. Motorcycles are much harder to see, especially in larger trucks. That’s why it’s important to use turn signals, check blind spots, and double-check mirrors before changing lanes, and also why it’s important to drive as predictably as possible. Weaving erratically through traffic makes it difficult for motorcyclists to avoid your blind spots, and could result in a tragic traffic accident.

So drive responsibly, be AWARE, and always take extra caution when changing lanes. Or, better yet, just pick a lane and stick with it.

Harley-davidson Motorcyclist

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?