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.

With warmer weather arriving and everyone stretching their legs after the “Shelter in Place” order in April, more motorcyclists are hitting the road.

“We must spread the word to vehicle drivers to keep an eye out for motorcyclists and to always remember to Share the Road,” said Georgia DDS Commissioner Spencer R. Moore.  “It is very easy to overlook a motorcycle due to their smaller size. For this reason, it’s all the more vital we put forth extra effort in keeping watch.”

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 2019 in Georgia, 163 people were killed in motorcycle accidents, an 8 percent increase from the year before.

A bit of caution and awareness could help save lives.