Wesley
Chapel, Florida --- May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
The
warmer weather means more and more bikers are hitting the roads. The first of May kicks off Motorcycle Safety
Awareness Month. For bikers, there's nothing better than days like we saw this
past weekend. The sun was shining and everyone is getting revved up for the
start of the riding season.
There
are more than 4-million licensed motorcyclists in the United States, of those,
over 300,000 riders are here in Florida.
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declared each May;
"Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month." The NHTSA is trying to bring
more motorcycle awareness to those drivers who aren't riding motorcycles. NHTSA
says, "Over two-thirds of fatal motorcycle crashes involve a motorcycle
and another vehicle." For those of us who travel the city streets daily,
we know quite well that most of our attention is spent on anticipating what the
other driver will do. This year’s campaign is “Share the
Road!”
The
Gold Wing Road Rider’s Association’s (GWRRA) Motorist Awareness
Division is committed to educating the Motorist community and our mission is to
facilitate a reduction in motorcycle crashes with other motor vehicles.
The
Motorist Awareness Division and Rider Education Program, through a Team effort,
are committed to a goal of establishing the safest motorcycling environment
possible. While Rider Education trains and educates motorcycle riders, the
Motorist Awareness Division focuses on educating the motorist community. Our
primary goal in motorist awareness will be to reduce the number of motorcycle
crashes with other highway users, a reduction in the loss of life, and a
reduction in injuries.
A
New Era in Motorist Awareness - A Simple Plan...
The
“Share the Road” campaign will pursue three aspects of motorist
awareness. Each of these three is supportive of each other:
·
Awareness
Education - Providing motorists with First Class, professional education
through our certified seminar presentations. Our presentations will be
developed for a multitude of audiences, educating them to a better
understanding of motorcyclists, the risks involved, a heightened awareness of
motorcycle presence and what they as motorists can do in the prevention of
crashes.
·
Awareness
Advertisement - Serves as a reminder to motorists that they share the road with
motorcycles. "Drive Aware!”
·
Public
Relations - Interaction with the motoring public has the ability to reflect
highly on GWRRA and to mold public opinion on how they view motorcyclists.
Thursday,
May 7th GWRRA Chapter FL1-L2 (Wings of Wesley Chapel will begin
their public relations portion of this plan in Brooksville at the Classic Car
night at Chick-Fil-A on SR50 followed on Friday, May 9th at the
intersection of Wesley Chapel Blvd (SR 54) and Old Pasco Road. Our goal in
this area is to build a rapport with motorists and leave them with a feeling
that motorcyclists are real people who could be their friend, neighbor, or even
a relative.
If
you are interested in learning more about Motorcycle Awareness, our Motorist
Awareness Coordinator will be happy to do a FREE presentation for your group.
Please contact Rick Buck (Chapter Director) (813) 943-5231, Frank Thomas (Rider
Education) (813) 477-5583 or Howie Taylor (Public Relations) (813) 505-4126 to
schedule a presentation.
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SIDEBAR
(use if you like)
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (www.forcardrivers.com) has put
together some very useful tips:
Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles
1. Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another
vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault.
There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some
drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle - they ignore it (usually
unintentionally).
2. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in
a car's blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds
outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to look for
motorcycles, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.
3. Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away
than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed. When
checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway,
predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
4. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off
the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following
distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow
down without visual warning.
5. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen
more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and
wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to
be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling,
thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after
a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.
7. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better
characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but
don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
8. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for
cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more
following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a
dime."
9. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle -
see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or
relative.
10. If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or
pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive
himself/herself.
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SIDEBAR
(use if you like)
“Research
shows drivers who also ride motorcycles and those with family members or close
friends who ride are more likely to observe motorcyclists and less likely to
collide with them.”
(Brooks,
1990)
“Motorcyclists
Are Dying To Be Seen!”
“There
is no need to drink and ride a motorcycle— the ride alone is intoxicating!”
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SIDEBAR
(use if you like)
Share
the Road
Every
driving situation is different and must be dealt with accordingly. Applying
these suggestions is the responsibility of the motorist.
·
Drive
aware when you are on the road. Expect to see motorcycles, not just another
car. Do not trust your mirrors because motorcycles can be hidden in your blind
spot. Instead, turn and look over your shoulder, then LOOK TWICE!
·
Keep
in mind the motorcyclist's point of view. Remember, motorcyclists move around
on the road. Anticipate their movements, particularly in the places where
crashes are most likely to occur.
·
Give
motorcycles the same space and respect that- you would give other vehicles. Do
not forget that they use the whole lane of traffic, even though it is not all
at one time. Always give them a full lane and remember not to follow too
closely. Allow a two to three second safety cushion between you and the
motorcycle and increase it to four to five seconds when road or weather
conditions are bad.
·
Be
courteous. Let the motorcyclist know well in advance when you are planning to
stop, turn, or change lanes. Do not speed up when a motorcycle is passing you.
Never cut in too closely after passing a motorcycle. Remember that the person
underneath that helmet could be someone you know.
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SIDEBAR
(use if you like)
More
motorcycles are on the road today than ever before. The main cause of accidents
involving motorcyclists is the failure of motorists to detect and recognize
motorcycles in traffic. To avoid crashes and reduce injuries and fatalities,
motorists should pay special attention to people riding motorcycles. This
special attention starts with an awareness of motorcycles, an understanding of
what to expect from motorcycles and knowledge of where most crashes are likely
to occur.
·
The
diversity of the motorcycling community is reflective of the general
population. The rider you see on the road may be a teacher, welder, secretary,
doctor, etc. Motorcyclists are often your relatives, friends, and neighbors.
·
When
motorcycle related crashes occur, 75 percent of them involved a collision with
another vehicle, usually a passenger car.
·
More
than 50% of all crashes involving a motorcycle and a passenger car occurred
because the motorist did not see the motorcycle (or did not see it soon enough
to respond). To decrease the number of motorcycle crashes, motorist should
RIDE AWARE and LOOK TWICE. Try to actually LOOK for motorcycles on the roadway.
TAKE notice of them on a regular basis. This will help you notice them when it
matters most - at intersections and during lane changes.
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SIDEBAR
(use if you like)
MOTORCYCLES
ARE EVERYWHERE LOOK TWICE and SAVE A LIFE
“Double
Check!”
Below
are some very important points to help you better understand the challenges of
motorcycle riding.
·
Motorist
Do Not Look For Motorcycles. Motorists are familiar with looking for other
cars, not motorcycles. Motorcycles are smaller than cars and trucks, therefore,
they are harder to see. It is also difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed and
distance accurately.
·
Motorcycles
Maneuver Differently. A motorcycle occupies 4 feet of a 12 foot lane in
traffic. The motorcyclist moves within the lane, adjusting to changing driving
conditions (the road, the weather, or other vehicles). While motorcyclists
typically ride in the left portion of a lane, they may move suddenly to avoid
an obstacle. Remember, motorcycles use as much of the lane as cars do - just
not all at one time.
·
Motorcycles
Have a Higher Risk. Motorcycles do not have protective exteriors like cars and,
therefore, are more vulnerable to a variety of elements. Even with the proper
clothing and helmets, motorcyclists are at a higher risk of injury, should they
be involved in a crash. Motorcyclists are more affected by bad weather such as
rain, high winds, and ice. By driving aware and looking twice along with being
more familiar with motorcycles you will be more likely to notice a motorcycle
at a critical point in time!
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SIDEBAR
(use if you like)
“Did
you see a motorcycle today?”
Now
that you have a better understanding of motorcyclists - Take a look at the most
likely causes of an accident involving a motorcyclist and a motorist.
·
Left
Turns
The most common accident between cars and motorcycles is at an intersection
when the automobile driver is making a left turn in front of a motorcycle. Over
forty percent of all motorcycle accidents occur at intersections.
·
Hazardous
Road Conditions
Motorcyclists have to be much more concerned about road obstructions. Potholes,
fallen tree limbs, or railroad tracks may be minor problems for many drivers. A
motorcyclist may have to slow down or change lanes to avoid these obstacles.
·
Car's
Blind Spot
Cyclists riding alongside a lane of cars are often out of the view of the
driver, an unsuspecting driver may collide with a motorcyclist as the driver
tries to change lanes Likewise, it is every motorcyclist rider's responsibility
to participate in motorcycle safety courses, expert rider courses, and skill
enhancement courses on a regular basis. Only by combining the skill of the
motorcyclist with the awareness of the motorist will the greatest reduction in
accidents and fatalities be achieved!
RIDE
AWARE - LOOK TWICE
Howie
& Karen Taylor
"Wings
of Wesley Chapel"
GWRRA Chapter FL1-L2
www.FL1L2.com
(813)
505-4126
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