Stay Aware

Motorcycles, other vehicles must safely share our roads

Most people take to the road in a car, truck or SUV. Some opt instead for a motorcycle, including a lot of your friends and neighbors right here in the Twin Cities.

All these vehicles must share the same roads and highways. They have the same rights—and the same responsibilities.

But when there is a crash between a motorcycle and another type of vehicle, the motorcyclist almost always gets the worst of it. There have been many times when we here at the Texarkana Gazette have had to publish a story about a fatal motorcycle accident. Too many.

This is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a time when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and motorcycling advocates try to educate the public to be more aware of bikes and hopefully avoid accidents.

But it’s not only the drivers of cars and trucks who are encouraged to be more safety conscious. Motorcyclists are also urged to follow the rules of the road and not to put themselves in harm’s way.

Here are some tips for both motorists and motorcyclists from the NHTSA.gov website. For motorists:

Motorcyclists have the same rights as any other driver. This includes the right to the full lane width. Never try to share a lane with a motorcyclist.

Be sure to check for motorcyclists when changing lanes or entering or leaving a roadway. Signal your intention to change lanes. Keep your distance. Allow as much space between you and motorcyclists as you would with any other vehicle..

For motorcyclists:

Wear proper safety gear, including a helmet and protective clothing.

Allow yourself enough time and space to react if another vehicle makes a sudden lane change or other sudden move.

Use your signals when changing lanes and at other appropriate times.

Obey traffic laws, do not speed and do not weave in and out of traffic.

There is room enough for everyone out there. Let’s share the road safely.