As motorcycles across the northern hemisphere are dusted off in time for spring and summer riding, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation launches a campaign to urge all road users to look out for motorcycles on the road
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
It's a worrying fact that car drivers simply don't see motorcycles on the road, leading to too-high numbers of accidents where the motorcyclist invariably comes off worse.
The problem is exacerbated as winter turns to spring and motorcycles start appearing more and more on the roads, tempted out by the warmer weather. The problem is that car drivers have had a whole winter without having to look out for motorcycles so they are even more out of practice than ever before.
May generally signals the start of the riding season and with it comes an increase in accidents. That is why the motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has designated May as Motorcycle Awareness Month.
There are a couple of factors that have influenced the number of motorcycles on the roads: high gas prices and two years of higher-than-average sales. Whilst that is great for the industry and, one might think, better for motorcyclists as, with more of them on the roads, surely drivers would get used to seeing them much quicker, it doesn't necessarily follow that that will be the case. Car drivers still won't take the time to properly look and see us.
A recent survey by the Motorcycle Industry Council found that 57 percent of motorcycle owners say they’ll ride more this year, largely due to rising fuel prices. The stats are interesting: 69 percent will use motorcycles for commuting, 69 percent for day trips, and 50 percent for errands and shopping.
Hence the #SeeMotorcycles campaign which will run throughout May.
“May has been the traditional start of the riding season for many across the country because the weather is getting warmer and the days longer,” said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. “That’s why it’s a great time to remind drivers to actively look out for motorcyclists, and for riders who are taking their bikes out of hibernation to do a thorough pre-ride inspection. It’s also a good idea to take time to refresh your riding skills, ideally with a safety course.
“We encourage drivers to use their turn signals, keep speeds down, and be vigilant when driving, especially when changing lanes,” Pritchard said. “Please remember to #SeeMotorcycles.”
Motorcycle sales in 2021 were 14.2% higher than in 2020 and 22% up on 2019.
“These are all indicators that more people will be out riding this year, so it’s the responsibility of all road users to look out for one another,” said MSF RiderCoach Armene Piper. “Riding a motorcycle is such a fun way to get around. But a rider’s number one priority should be safety. That means following the rules of the road, wearing safety gear each and every time they ride, and using smart street strategies.”
It's certainly not only for motorists to look out for motorcycles: riders also have a responsibility to do everything they can to be as safe on the roads as possible. Luckily that message seems to have filtered through:
“Demand for rider training is also robust,” Pritchard said. “The Motorcycle Safety Foundation saw an estimated 48 percent increase in enrolment in 2021 over 2020, and early data from 2022 indicates a continuing trend.”
At the end of the day, it is the rider's responsibility to do as much as he or she can to avoid accidents, whether that is through making sure all lights are working and on at all times to riding defensively and not putting themselves in situations where accidents are more likely to happen, such as filtering through traffic when it is unsafe to do so.
For rider and driver safety tips, head to www.msf-usa.org and www.forcardrivers.com