Motorcycle Safety is a Two-Way Street
May is Motorcycle Safety Month! Do you long for the freedom that comes with riding on the open road? If so, it's critical to respect your machine and improve your skills throughout your lifetime. But that’s only half the story. Motorists interested only in four-wheeled vehicles still have a major responsibility in keeping motorcyclists safe on the road.
Did you know?
- Motorcycles make up 3% of all registered vehicles and only .7% of all vehicle miles traveled in the U.S.
- Motorcyclists accounted for 13% of all traffic fatalities in 2016
- 26% of riders who died in a motorcycle crash in 2016 were alcohol-impaired
- 91% of riders who died in a motorcycle crash in 2016 were male
- 36% of all fatalities in 2016 were riders over 50 years of age
Drivers: Do you think about motorcycles?
The vast majority of vehicles on the road are not motorcycles. They're cars and vans and trucks. It's quite possible that as a driver you rarely think about motorcycles.
This is a problem. Here are a few common reasons for motor vehicle vs motorcycle accidents:
- Motorcycles are relatively small and drivers don't see them
- Drivers don't anticipate motorcycles' movements
- The driver's view of the motorcyclist is obstructed, often by the vehicle's blind spots or other vehicles
- The driver (car or motorcycle) is distracted
Keep your eye out when driving this year - if you're in a motorcycle or a motor vehicle! Safety is a two-way street.
Talk to your local IMT Agent to get the right coverage for your motorcycle! Ride safe this summer!
