AAA shares motorcycle safety tips for bikers, drivers

Editorial by AAA Western and Central New York

With the warmer weather comes more motorcycles on the road.

Motorcycle safety is everyone's responsibility. In order to keep our roads as safe as possible, AAA Western and Central New York is reminding both drivers and bikers of some key safety tips.

As a driver:

•Be extra cautious on weekends, when more motorcyclists take to the road.

•Provide motorcyclists adequate room to maneuver. Follow at least three to four seconds behind them.

•Allow extra maneuvering room in areas with potholes, pavement transitions and railroad crossings. Motorcyclists may need to slow down, stop or adjust their lane position.

•Never try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Motorcycles have the same right to lanes as any other vehicle.

•If a motorcycle is nearby, check your mirrors carefully before changing lanes. Motorcycles may be in your blind spots or difficult to see because of their smaller size.

As a motorcyclist:

•Keep headlights and marker and taillights on at dusk and in dark or rainy weather.

•Stay three to four seconds behind a vehicle you intend to pass, checking oncoming traffic from the left side of the lane, signaling the intention to turn, and then checking for oncoming traffic before passing.

•Check your rearview mirror and quickly turn your head to ensure the vehicle is a safe distance behind you when completing a pass.

•Wear helmets that meet a high protection standard. Helmets are 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries in crashes; riders without helmets are three times more likely to have a brain injury as a result of a crash than helmeted riders.

•Wear proper clothing, eyewear and sturdy, closed-toe footwear.

As upstate New York's largest member services organization, AAA provides nearly 860,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

Visit AAA at www.AAA.com or download its mobile app at www.AAA.com/mobile.