Safety/News




TEN THINGS ALL DRIVERS
SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MOTORCYCLES

1.) 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 FOR MOTOTRCYCLES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN CHECKING TRAFFIC AT
INTERSECTIONS
2.) 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, REALIZE THAT A MOTORCYCLE IS
CLOSER THAN IT LOOKS
3.) A motorcycle can be easily hidden ia a car's blind
spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside
a car such as bushed, fences and bridges.

TAKE AN EXTRA MOMENT TO THOROUGHLY CHECK
TRAFFIC, WHETHER YOU'RE CHANGING LANES OR
TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS
4.) A motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it
really is.

DON'T ASSUME ALL MOTORCYCLES ARE SPPED
DEMONS

5.) Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely
rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake
light

ALLOW MORE FOLLOWING DISTANCE. AT INTERSECTIONS
EXPECT THAT A MOTORCYCLIST MAY SLOW
DOWN WITHOUT VISUAL WARNING

6.) Turn signals on a motocycle usually are not self-
canceling, thus some riders - especially beginners -
sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or
lane change.

WATCH FOR OTHER SIGNS THAT THE MOTORCYCLIST IS
MAKING A TURN.

7.) 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 ALLOW YOU TO
SHARE THE LANE WITH THEM OR TO BE RECKLESS OR
SHOW

8.) 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



9.) 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 IT CAN'T ALWAYS STOP
"ON A DIME"



10.) Motorcycles are more vulnerable to injury in traffic
collisions than other roadway users since they don't
have the advantage of being surrounding by 3,000
pounds of steel.

WHEN A MOTORCYLE IS IN MOTION, THINK OF IT AS
A PERSON.