Motorcycle Safety Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding drivers of cars, trucks and buses to look out for, and share the road with, motorcycle riders.

According to NHTSA - despite historical declines in automobile fatalities, motorcycle deaths have increased every year for the past 14 years except in 2009 when there was a 16 percent decline.


To prevent motorcyclist's deaths and injuries, NHTSA offers the following safety recommendations:
For motorcyclists:

• Never ride impaired or distracted.
• Obey traffic laws, wear DOT-compliant helmets and other protective gear.
• Make yourself visible by wearing bright colors and using reflective tape.
• Avoid riding in poor weather conditions.
• Use turn signals for every turn or lane change, even if you think no one will see it.
• Combine hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to yourself.
• Position yourself in the lane where you will be most visible to other drivers.

For more information, visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/Motorcycles.