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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Submitted

Wed, May 6th 2015 05:55 pm

AlertID raises awareness and offers tips to safely share the road

The great riding conditions experienced in the spring and summer months result in increased motorcyclists on the road, requiring additional caution among all motorists.

May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and AlertID is working to educate all motorists across the country to safely share the road.

According to multiple case studies, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 62 percent of motorcycle fatalities occur between May and September. A majority of motorcycle accidents are caused when a vehicle motorist fails to detect and recognize the motorcyclist.

"It is our hope that motorcycle safety campaigns such as this will help keep riders and other motorists informed and safe on the road," AlertID founder Keli Wilson said.

Tips for vehicle motorists from the NHTSA:

  • Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.
  • Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
  • If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful: Motorcycle signals are often non-canceling and could have been forgotten. Always ensure the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.
  • Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.
  • Always allow more follow distance - three to four seconds - when behind a motorcycle. This gives bikers more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
  • Never drive distracted or impaired.

Harley-Davidson, a predominant American motorcycle manufacturer with more than 100 years of industry excellence, cares about the safety of the product it sells to customers and works to educate other motorists how to drive safely when sharing the road with motorcycles. According to a Harley-Davidson spokesperson, "Riders should be less aggressive and more defensive when taking to the roads any time of year."

Motorcyclists can increase their safety by following these tips from the NHTSA:

  • Always wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. 
  • Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear.
  • Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed.
  • Use hand and turn signals at every lane change or turn.
  • Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility.
  • Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers.
  • Never ride distracted or impaired.

For more information on AlertID, visit www.AlertID.com.

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