Motorcycle Safety Awareness should be a priority every day…….if you are a rider, or if you are a driver sharing the road. National “Ride to Work Day” is a reminder that safety for motorcycles should be a priority all year long, and riders are encouraged to share this view and ride their motorcycle to work on June 16th to show their support. As a rider, certain safety measures should become a habit each and every time you take to the road. For other drivers, making sure you give motorcycles the same rights as other motor vehicles will go a long way to reducing crashes and deaths on our roadways.
Distracted Driving has become a major awareness theme for traffic safety advocates. This concern increases during the warmer months of the year when motorcycles become more prevalent on the road. Making sure you see all that you need to see when you are behind the wheel, and that includes motorcycles, can save a life. Furthermore, it is important to remember that motorcyclists need a full lane length. Although motorcycles are smaller vehicles, they need room to maneuver safely.
As a rider, make sure you “Ride S.M.A.R.T.” . Always ride Sober, Motorcycle endorsed, Alert, with the Right gear, and Trained. Riders need to make sure they follow all the same traffic laws as all other road users, wear an approved DOT helmet, and limit distractions. Motorcycle riding can be, and is, a great way to travel if safety measures are observed. In 2012, 4957 persons were killed in motorcycle crashes nationwide. In Pickaway County, the number of injuries and deaths over the past several years has made this type of traffic safety initiative a priority of the Safe Communities of Pickaway County program, and law enforcement alike. Making sure riders and other road users respect each other, the laws, and the road, can reduce crashes and traffic related deaths significantly.
So “Ride to Work” this June 16th, and show your support for safety on our roadways. As for other road users…… “Watch Out for Motorcycles” on June 16th and every day you travel.
For more information on motorcycle safety, and other traffic safety initiatives, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov .
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