Posted on 05/01/2023 7:16:03 AM PDT by BraveMan
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and AAA Western and Central New York is reminding drivers and bikers of safety tips as biking season is upon us — as soon as the weather permits.
The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that fatal motorcycle crashes are on the rise:
5,932 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2021, the highest number since 1975 Motorcycle fatalities increased 9 percent in 2021 compared to 2020 (5,579 fatalities in 2020) Fatal motorcycle crashes accounted for 14 percent of all crashes in 2021 According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the number of on-road motorcycles registered in the U.S. doubled from 4.3 million in 2002, to 8.6 million in 2021 AAA continues its efforts to advocate for traffic safety, hoping to reduce crashes as everyone does their part to safely share the road.
The agency says most multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes occur when drivers simply didn’t see the motorcyclist. For drivers, there are some things to keep in mind:
Check mirrors and blind spots for motorcyclists before entering or leaving lanes of traffic and at intersections Signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic Allow enough time to determine a motorcyclist's intention before changing lanes or merging Increase following distance behind motorcycles Never try to share a lane with motorcycles Some things for motorcyclists to keep in mind:
Check tire pressure and tread depth Make sure brakes, headlights, and signal indicators are working Make sure cargo is secured and balanced; if needed, adjust suspension and tire pressure to accommodate the extra weight Always ride with a helmet that meets the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (there is a “DOT” symbol on the back) Wear other protective gear, such as gloves, a jacket, and pants Make yourself visible by keeping your lights on, wear bright colors, and use reflective tape, Position yourself in the lane where drivers can see you Follow traffic laws and combine hand signals with turn signals Never ride impaired: 27 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2020 involved alcohol (according to NHTSA) AAA wishes everyone a safe Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month!
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
I wonder if keeping your speed within a factor of two of the posted speed limit would help the survival rates of motorcyclists?
I’m aware of Motorcycle Safety every time I get on......................
I worked for years in a big city ER. We’d get patients flown in from points within a 200 mile radius,including those involved in bike accidents. I can guarantee you that in hospital ERs motorbikes are,in fact,referred to as “donor cycles”.
I almost got me a bicyclist yesterday! Coming down a road to a T. I stopped, looked for cars and almost pulled out in front of a bycyclist. I managed to stop.
I learned almost forty years that if you are on a two wheel conveyance you suddenly become invisible to all auto drivers.
Got rid of my two wheelers and went to trucks.
With more drivers on their cell phones and high on dope.....no way I’m getting back on a scooter.
I filled out my Donor Card, donating my testicles to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Suggestion: put steel all around bike. Add two wheels to support structural weight. Or identify as a marshmallow.
For pedestrians: full football/hockey gear.
Couch potatoes: eat only rabbit food.
Fair enough! Is your heart in decent shape? How about your lungs...kidneys...liver?
I pass every last vehicle I come across
= = =
Sounds good to me.
You only have to look ahead.
Not in the rear view mirror, and all around.
Got me one a few years ago. I had a green light through an intersection, and there were three cars coming at me. It was 0-Dark-30 and all I could see was headlights. As the lights from the last car cleared my vision, I sensed more than saw that there was a motion behind the last car. Jammed on the brakes. Idiot crossed the road behind those cars and didn't even see me. I had no chance to see him. No reflective gear or lights. It was so close, that if I'd have had another 6" of stopping space, he'd only have had dirty underwear and a story to tell. As it was, he got a (possibly) broken leg and broken bicycle out of it. Thankfully, I had three witnesses let the cops know that he rode out in front of me and I had the green. Never heard from anyone on it. I notified my insurance, but no claim was ever made.
None are worth the ice to pack them in . . .
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