Editorial: Motorcycle safety awareness month

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, May 15, 2019

By Staff reports

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and we join the Georgia Department of Driver Service in reminding motorists about the state’s “Share the Road” Campaign.

The Georgia Motorcycle Program has partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind all drivers to “Share the Road” with motorcycles.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration designated May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to remind all drivers to keep each other safe. According to the NHTSA, if we hold the number of miles constant (assume the car driver and the motorcycle rider are going the same distance), the motorcyclist is 26 times more likely than the car occupant to die in a traffic accident.

The agencies urge motorcyclists to remember to keep a safe distance to those driving in front of you.  

They also offered these tips:

— Wearing brightly colored protective gear during the day.

— Using reflective material at night on your protective gear.

— Positioning yourself in traffic to be seen.

— Communicating your intentions to other drivers with turn and hand signals.

— Following the rules of the road.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, in 2017 in Georgia, 137 people were killed in motorcycle accidents.

A bit of caution and awareness could help save lives.