Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month – May 2018

Motorcycle Safety Awareness

Are you thinking about getting a motorcycle? Then we recommend learning more about Florida’s approved motorcycle safety courses, by visiting the Florida Rider Training Program. It doesn’t matter if you are driving a car, motorcycle or moped, we all have the same rights and duties.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in 2015. Two-thirds of motorcycle accidents were caused when the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents.

Tips for Motorists

• Never share a lane with a motorcycle. By law, the motorcyclist is permitted to the entire lane.
• Be Aware! Always look out for motorcyclists before pulling into an intersection or changing lanes.
• It is difficult to gauge the speed of a motorcycle So be extra careful, they may appear farther away than they are.
• Don’t tailgate! motorcycles have the ability to stop quicker than a car or truck, so give yourself some room to brake if necessary.
• Motorcyclists often slow down by downshifting? When a motorcyclist downshifts, it doesn’t activate their brake light, so again, don’t tailgate!
• Be Aware! Sometimes the force of the wind can cause the rider to lose control.

Additional safety information can be found at https://www.carlsonattorneys.com/news-and-update/5546/.