We have seen that the media's usual modus operandi is to mischaracterize almost every motorcycle accident as the fault of the biker, so that when a truck takes a left turn right into the path of a motorcycle driving lawfully on the road, we usually see a headline saying the motorcyclist crashed into the truck or some other nonsense that victimizes the dead or critically injured biker (including their friends and family) a second time.
So when one reads the title in a recent Fox 17 article "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month: Tips for drivers & motorcyclists to stay safe" one hopes that they're finally going to tell motorists how to drive safely so that they do not kill motorcyclists, or other vulnerable users of the road. Four of seven motorcyclist deaths come from crashes into vehicles. That hope turns out to be misguided.
This article borrows exclusively from the NHTSA Motorcycle Safety page originally used by WXYZ and likely many other media across the state and nation. As you might expect, a page labeled 'motorcycle safety' doesn't focus at all at what motorists can do to avoid hitting motorcycles or offer any practical advice, which is very important this week in our location since you will see a lot of motorcyclists heading towards Baldwin for the annual Blessing of the Bikes.
The extent of the 'tips for drivers' amounts to understanding "the safety challenges faced by motorcyclists such as size and visibility, and motorcycle riding practices like downshifting and weaving to know how to anticipate and respond to them." Frankly, the tips for bikers aren't that much better, where their main highlight is to "MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROPERLY LICENSED", as if having a valid, up-to-date license is a safety tip.
Since neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Association or any of the media want to give you any practical safety advice for you as a motorist during Motorcycle Safety Awareness month, I will offer some for you from ForCarDrivers a page maintained by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
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I have a very different opinion about this subject than you X. First of all if it's necessary to declare a "motorcycle awareness month" then there must be a problem regarding being aware, both on the motor vehicle driver and motorcycle driver. I have a list myself regarding this situation.
1. Remember that riding a motorcycle is extremely dangerous behavior. You not only risk your life but others as well.
2. Don't assume that people can see you. Keep in mind that you are very difficult to see. It's your responsibility to be as visible as possible. Wear a blaze orange vest or coat. Ride with your lights on. Install strobes on front, back and sides of cycle.
3. Motorists do not intentionally try to hit motorcycles so it's up to the cyclist to drive with extreme caution and drive in a defensive manner.
4. When approaching an intersection slow down and assume that you are not being seen. Again do not assume the vehicles at the intersection have seen you.
5. Wear a helmet and leathers.
6. Take a course in crash control, Learn how to roll with the bike if you have to lay it on it's side.
7. Don't speed, The faster you go the harder you are to see.
8. Don't carry passengers. They are a distraction and make handling the bike difficult especially if you have to lay the bike down.
9. Use a quiet muffler so you can hear what's going on around you.
10. RIde as though you expect to crash. Be prepared.
I've rode bikes all my life including trail bikes, quads. The responsibility to return home safely is yours. Blaming others after you have been killed, injured or paralyzed after a collision is not going to help you or your family.
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