As spring (finally) arrives, more people are heading outdoors to take advantage of the sunshine and higher temperatures, including motorcyclists. Motorcyclists are one of the most vulnerable groups when it comes to safety. Despite accounting for only 3 percent of vehicle registrations and 0.7 percent of miles travelled, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of total traffic fatalities. Over half of those fatal accidents involved another vehicle. Interaction with other vehicles puts motorcyclists at great risk. Unfortunately, accident and fatality rates for motorcycle drivers have continued to increase over the past decade. Here are some tips to keep yourself and motorcyclists safe.

• Share the road. Make a conscious effort to remember that more motorcycles will be on the road during warmer months.
• Double check blind spots. Motorcycles are smaller and much harder to see in blind spots.
• Look carefully in all directions before pulling onto the street. Motorcycles can be difficult to spot and their small size may make them seem like they are further away than they actually are.
• Look twice before making left turns. Look once for cars and once for motorcycles.
• Give motorcycles space. Often times motorcyclists will downshift to slow down rather than apply the break, this means they may slow down without activating brake lights.
• Let them swerve. Hitting potholes or other items in the road can be very dangerous for motorcyclists, so it is important that they have space to maneuver.
• Make your intentions known. Use turn signals when turning or changing lanes.
• Watch for turning motorcycles. A number of older motorcycles do not have self-cancelling turn signals that many people are accustomed to, therefore some drivers may forget to turn off their signals.

Tips for motorcyclists:

• Work on your driving skills. Make sure you are properly licensed and have had plenty of practice operating your motorcycle.
• Wear protective equipment such as helmets and long sleeve shirts and pants.
• Wear reflective apparel to be more easily seen.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving at night. Always use lights when driving at night.
• Follow the rules of the road. Follow speed limits, stop at stop signs and red lights, etc.
• Keep your motorcycle in road ready condition. Make sure your vehicle is safe to drive, especially if it has been stored away all winter.

It is important to remember that there are no small accidents or “fender benders” for motorcycle drivers. They are completely exposed on the roadways and keeping them and other drivers safe takes effort from everyone. If all drivers learn to share the road, accidents and fatalities can be reduced significantly, and it all starts with awareness. May is officially recognized as ‘Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month’ with the goal of increasing driver awareness of motorcycles on the road.

In addition to motorcyclists, warm weather draws more runners, bicyclists, and pedestrians outside. It’s important for drivers to take extra caution when driving around these groups as they are extremely vulnerable around traffic.

If you are interested in learning more about motorcycle awareness or are looking for a motorcycle safety course, you can find more information by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation website.

— Chris Nickell, Environmental Health and Safety