Celebrating Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

As winter turns to spring, motorcyclists take their bikes out of storage to hit the open road. That is why May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Celebrate Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month with Hap's Cycle Sales!

Unfortunately, motorcyclists are overrepresented in traffic crashes and fatalities. Motorcyclists are about 29 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and are four times more likely to be injured per vehicle mile traveled. This is why it is so important to be educated when it comes to motorcycle safety.

When you're driving a car, there are steps you can take to protect motorcyclists. For one, never drive distracted or impaired. You also want to allow more follow distance when you're behind a motorcycle. The recommended distance is three to four seconds, as this gives motorcyclists more time to maneuver or stop in the event of an emergency.

Up next, check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before you change lanes or merge with traffic. This is especially important to do when you're at an intersection. Don't forget to use your turn signal as well.

If a motorcycle has a turn signal on, always assume they are turning. Motorcycle signals are non-canceling, so it isn't uncommon that a motorcyclist forgets to turn their signal off. However, you don't want to follow too close or assume they are not turning because this can cause an unsafe situation.

Lastly, always give a motorcycle the entire width of a lane at all times. Just because motorcycles are smaller vehicles doesn't mean you should try to share the width of the lane with them.

Now if you're a motorcyclist, there are steps you can take to protect yourself when you're on the road. First, always be properly licensed and always wear a DOT-compliant helmet and the proper protective gear. Next, obey the traffic laws. When you're turning, use both your turn signal and a hand signal to make sure drivers are aware of your intent to turn.

Riding in the middle of a lane makes you more visible to drivers, so take this into consideration during your ride. You also want to wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to make yourself more visible to motorists. Just like when driving a car, you should never operate a motorcycle when you are distracted or impaired.

Follow these safety tips this Motorcycle Awareness Month! If you're a motorcyclist seeking a new bike, shop with Hap's Cycle Sales. You can find us at 2530 17th St. in Sarasota, FL.