The Missing Tips for Motorists

[XLFD]

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:

Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles

Your Car Can Kill

Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t “recognize” a motorcycle – they ignore it (usually unintentionally).

Look Out For Us, Please

Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections.

Check Again, and Again

Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

Keep a Safe Distance

Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

Lane Changing

Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

Be Sure About that Signal

Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.

Nimble – Most of the Time

Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

Give Yourself Time to Stop

Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because you can’t always stop “on a dime.”

See the Person

When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle – see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.

No Take-Backs

If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.  

[Willy]

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.