Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month happens each May. The awareness initiative was launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and its purpose is to call attention to safe riding practices and cooperation from not only motorcyclists but everyone on the road. The goal is to reduce the number of motorcycle accident injuries and fatalities.
It’s critical that other motorists understand and appreciate the safety challenges faced by motorcycle riders, such as size and visibility, and motorcycle riding practices – like weaving and downshifting – so they can anticipate and respond to them. By raising the awareness, both drivers and motorcyclists can be safer while sharing the road.
Motorcycle Safety Tips for Riders and Other Drivers
If you are a motorcycle rider, make sure you to follow these safety tips whenever you hit the road:
- Always wear protective gear like a helmet, gloves, boots, and reflective attire.
- Always inspect the mechanical condition of your motorcycle before riding.
- Ride defensively and anticipate the actions of motorists.
- Never text or use a phone.
- Look twice before turning and pulling into intersections and turning.
- Don’t tailgate.
- Don’t speed.
- Keep your distance from distracted and aggressive motorists.
- Use both brakes to stop
If you are the driver of a four-wheeled vehicle, remember that motorcyclists have the same rights and privileges as other motor vehicle operators on the road. Here are a few safe-driving tips for other drivers to help prevent crashing with a motorcycle:
- Always signal when changing lanes.
- If you see a motorcycle use a hand signal or put on their blinker, be especially careful and make sure the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.
- Check all blind spots for motorcycles before merging or changing lanes.
- Allow plenty of following distance when driving behind a motorcycle. Three to four seconds is recommended, giving motorcyclists more time to stop or maneuver in an emergency.
- Double-check for oncoming motorcycles before making a left-hand turn across oncoming lanes of traffic.
Last year, there were 2,701 motorcycle crashes in Tennessee. Of those crashes, 168 involved fatalities, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security. If everyone on the road follows the above motorcycle safety tips, there would be a significant reduction in these numbers.
How Can Terry Law Firm Help Me?
If you have suffered a motorcycle accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Terry Law Firm are ready to help. Our highly skilled legal team will thoroughly investigate every aspect of the motorcycle accident and put together a strong case on your behalf, holding the negligent motorist accountable and fighting for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
You can schedule a free initial consultation by calling us or contacting us online now. Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis, which means we do not get paid unless and until we win compensation for you.
This month and all year long, we hope that all drivers consider motorcycle riders when on the road in Tennessee and across the U.S. By focusing on safety and awareness of all other vehicles, we can all do our part to prevent serious and potentially fatal motorcycle crashes.
