Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month: Facts & Tips

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The campaign is aimed at increasing awareness among drivers of all types of vehicles to drive responsibly and take heed of motorcycles sharing the roadway. Warmer weather brings out motorcycle lovers in larger multitudes. Large parking lots, wide roads, and highways are buzzing with motorcycling enthusiast. At this time, the highways, city roads and intersections demand more attention of motorcyclist and car drivers alike.

All Drivers Have Responsibility to Keep Motorcyclists Safe

Although motorcycles account for only 3% of all vehicles in the USA, they hold the same rights on the road as any other motorist. In many states, there is strong initiative to educate motorcycle drivers and riders to take safety measures to avoid any unlikely situation and at worse fatalities.

Unfortunately, the same amount of emphasis regarding motorcycle safety is not taken with drivers of other vehicle types. It may seem unnecessary to do, but with motorcyclist being at a higher risk of injury and fatality in the event of a crash, it is an important matter to bring to the forefront.

A common prejudice among American drivers is the idea that the sheer risk associated with motorcycling, calling it a fast lane to death, is one that must be accepted. The risks associated with motorcycling, while true, do not remove the responsibility of passenger car drivers to practice safe driving habits like using turn signals and avoiding distracted driving.

Car and truck drivers can take the following safety precautions to avoid crashing with motorcycles:

• Give full lane space to motorcycles, same as a full size car.
• Check blind spots, look twice and signal when making turns, merging with traffic, and changing lanes.
• When behind a motorcycle, always keep ample space to allow for sudden breaking.
• For the safety of everyone on the road, avoid distracted, drunk, and drowsy driving.

Motorcyclist – Take Charge of Your Safety on the Road

According to the NHTSA, motorcycle crashes have decreased in number in 2013, recording 4,668 motorcyclist fatalities, as compared to 4,986 in 2012. But in previous years, there was an increase in motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle riders still have 30 times greater risk to die in a crash than car passengers.

The major cause of motorcycle related deaths can be attributed to lack of the use of helmets. Nearly 1,630 lives alone where saved due to the proper use of helmets.

Helmets alone save around 37% of motorcycle riders from fatal injuries. Alarmingly still, 40% of the riders on the roads commute without helmets. The second most prevalent cause of motorcycle related crashes is driving under the influence. There are more drunk motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes, at 27%, than cars, which are at 23%, or truck drivers at 21%. While on the road, motorcycle riders should take note of the following guidelines to lower their risk of being involved in a crash:

• Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet and use bright color and fluorescent gear to make yourself more visible. According to a study in New Zealand, the use of white color helmets can lowers risk by 24%.
• Drive with your headlights turned on even during the day. It may help lower the risk of a SMIDSY (Sorry mate, I didn’t see you) crash.
• Drive in the middle of the lane to become more visible to the traffic as opposed to straddling the lane divider lines.
• Do a maneuver while approaching an intersection, over-taking, or changing lanes.
• Avoid lane splitting or driving aggressively, especially in heavier traffic.
• Take motorcycle safety lessons and driving courses to improve your riding skills
• Use your hand and turn signal to inform other’s that you are taking a turn or changing lane.
• For the safety of everyone on the road, avoid distracted, drunk, and drowsy driving.

Safety gear is an important part of rider’s safety. A study by the British Standards Institute (BSI) determined which gears should be a higher priority for riders.

One of the standards they used was what little trauma results in permanent injury. They came up with surprisingly the following priority list:

1. Helmet – to avoid head traumas which are the leading cause of motorcycle fatalities
2. Gloves – hands can sustain a lot of trauma during a motorcycle crash
3. Boots – a vast majority of injuries to motorcyclist is in the feet and ankles
4. Jacket – with shoulder pads and spine protection to help with preventing limb or spine trauma
5. Pants – to prevent bruises and cuts to the skin in the lower part of the body

Motorcycle safety is the responsibility of everyone on the roads; car and truck drivers, motorcyclist, and pedestrians. Contributions from both the drivers and riders is required to make American roads safe for motorcycles during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and year round. The majority of people behind the wheel, car & truck drivers, are more likely to cause a crash due to non-familiarity of the presence or proximity of motorcycles.

Motorcyclist are more likely to cause a crash if they fail to follow proper safety measures and are more likely to be injured in a crash if they fail to wear safety gear. By abiding the law, taking safety precautions, and using proper safety protection, the number of motorcycle fatalities can be reduced.