The great riding conditions we experience in the spring and summer months result in increased motorcyclists on the road requiring additional caution among all motorists. May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and AlertID, your neighborhood safety network, is working to educate all motorists across the country to safely share the road.

According to multiple case studies including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 62% of motorcycle fatalities occur between May and September and a majority of motorcycle accidents are caused when a vehicle motorist fails to detect and recognize the motorcyclist.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • 62% of motorcycle fatalities occur between May and September.
  • Helmets can reduce the likelihood of motorcycle fatalities by 37%

The following statistics are based on the analysis of data from the U.S. department of Transportation, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It is our hope that motorcycle safety campaigns such as this will help keep riders and other motorists informed and safe on the road,” said AlertID Founder, Keli Wilson.

With these tips for vehicle motorists from the NHTSA, we hope that all motorists will stay vigilant:

  • Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.
  • Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
  • If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful: motorcycle signals are often non-canceling and could have been forgotten. Always ensure that the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.
  • 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.
  • Never drive distracted or impaired.

Harley-Davidson, a predominant American motorcycle manufacturer with over 100 years of industry excellence, cares about the safety of the product they sell to their customers and works to educate other motorists how to drive safely when sharing the road with motorcycles. According to a Harley-Davidson spokesperson, “Riders should be less aggressive and more defensive when taking to the roads any time of year”.

Motorcyclists can increase their safety by following these tips from the NHTSA:

  • Always wear long pants and closed toed shoes.
  • Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear.
  • Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed.
  • Use hand and turn signals at every lane change or turn.
  • Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility.
  • Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers.
  • Never ride distracted or impaired.