Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and this year it couldn't come soon enough. A report recently published by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) hints at a spike in motorcycle deaths in 2012. Based on the preliminary data provided, GHSA projects that the number of motorcyclist traffic fatalities in the United States increased about 9 percent from 2011 to 2012. A variety of reasons for this upsurge have been suggested, but the fact remains that, in the words of GHSA's deputy executive director, Jonathan Adkins, "This is a bad situation that is getting worse."

Motorcyclists have the same rights and privileges as any other motor vehicle on the roadway. But make sure you stress to your traffic school students that they must safely "share the road" with motorcycles. Motorcycles are often overlooked by drivers. Motorcycles' smaller size makes them hard to see in the first place, and it makes it difficult to accurately judge their distance and speed. Quick acceleration and the need to frequently adjust lane position also make motorcycles challenging to track. But because most automobile-motorcycle crashes are caused by a motorist's failure to detect a motorcycle in traffic, it's easy to see why greater vigilance is vital.

Drivers are encouraged to:

• Check mirrors frequently, and always check blind spots before changing lanes.
• Watch for oncoming cyclists when making left turns.
• Expand following distances when behind a motorcycle. Motorcyclists may need to adjust their speed or location within their lane.
• Allow motorcyclists a full lane width. Do not share the lane.
• Avoid distracted driving. It's always dangerous, but motorcycles require even greater attention from motorists.

Traffic Safety Marketing, a communications resource sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shares downloadable resources related to motorcycle safety. Let's get the word out!