St. Marys declares May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
ST. MARYS - May marks Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month which comes at a crucial time as traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels, families are planning for summer road trips and interest in motorcycling, for both commuting and recreation, is seeing growth. Recently the City of St. Marys issued a proclamation declaring May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. On hand for the declaration were members of the Elk County A.B.A.T.E. (Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education) Chapter. The proclamation reads: “the safety of all motorists is an issue of the highest consequence and all highway users should unite in the safe sharing of roadways throughout the City and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” It also states, “motorcycle riding is a popular form of recreation and transportation for thousands of people across the nation, it is especially important that the citizens be aware of motorcycles in the streets and highways an recognize the importance of staying alert, practicing safe driving techniques, and promoting motorcycle safety.” Also stated in the proclamation is that “during the month of
May, the City of St. Marys and the Elk County A.B.A.T.E. Chapter will continue their advocacy of motorcycle safety. Therefore in recognition of the importance of motorcycle safety on our roads and highways, Mayor, along with the City Council proclaim May 2022 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in the City. I encourage all motorcyclists to continue their efforts to promote safety and motorcycle awareness and all drivers to share the road and respect the unique safety needs of motorcyclists.”
The proclamation was signed by St. Marys Mayor Lyle Garner.
A.B.A.T.E. of PA is dedicated to protecting the individual rights of motorcyclists through political change, charitable works and public education. The group has been working towards motorcycle awareness and helping motorists since 1983.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2019 a total of 5,014 motorcyclists died in fatal traffic crashes.
In Pennsylvania there are nearly 850,000 licensed motorcyclists, according to PennDOT.
As both drivers and riders take to the roads in the warmer weather months, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers the following safety tips:
Tips for drivers:
•Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots, so check — then check again — before changing lanes or making a turn.
•Predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks. A motorcycle may look farther away than it is because of its small size, and it may be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it appears.
•Keep a safe distance. Motorcyclists often slow by rolling off the throttle or downshifting, thus not activating the brake light, so allow more following distance, about 3 to 4 seconds.
•Understand lane shifting. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
•See the person. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle, see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.
Tips for riders:
•Be visible. Motorists often have trouble seeing motorcycles, so wear bright clothing and a light-colored helmet. Always have your headlight on, day and night, and avoid riding in blind spots of cars and trucks. If possible, flash your brake light when slowing down and before stopping.
•But pretend you are invisible. If you assume others on the road can’t
see you, and any car that can hit you will hit you, you will tend to ride in a hyper-aware mindset and learn to notice every detail in your surroundings. Take extra responsibility for your safety and ride defensively.
•Gear up every ride. Wear proper riding gear from head to toe. Full-face helmets provide the best protection, and jackets, pants, gloves, and boots that are made for riding will generally be made of abrasion-resistant material, include protective armor, and provide additional comfort.
•Use good street strategies. Constantly search the road for changing conditions and use the SearchEvaluate-Execute strategy (SEE) to assess and respond to hazards before you have to react to an emergency.
•Before you ride, check over your bike. Make a habit of doing a pre-ride check, which includes looking over your tires and wheels, checking fluids, cables, your bike’s chassis, lights and electronics, and the stands. Use the T-CLOCS inspection checklist to help you.
More tips are available at msf-usa.org and forcardrivers.com.