May Is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and the biggest component to keep cyclists safer is motorist awareness. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has listed motorist awareness as an important component in its comprehensive motorcycle safety program. According to their data, over two-thirds of fatal motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle and another vehicle. Many times the motorist does not see the motorcycle or does not see the motorcycle in time to avoid the crash. Another important aspect to remember is that a vehicle and a motorcycle may take different actions for the same driving or highway situation; such as a piece of debris in the road. A vehicle may ignore the debris but a motorcycle will have to maneuver around it or it could become deadly. Below are some tips to keep in mind about motorcycle safety:

1.) Respect the motorcyclist: A motorcycle is a vehicle with all the priviledges of any vehicle on the roadway.

2.) Give the motorcyclist a full lane of travel

3.) Look for motorcyclists on the highway, at intersections when a motorcyclist may be making a left turn, and also when a motorcyclist may be changing lanes.

4.) Clearly signal your intentions

5.) Try to anticipate a motorcyclist's maneuver: Potholes, debris etc. can be deadly for a motorcyclist, so predict evasive actions

6.) Allow plenty of space. Don't follow a motorcycle too closely: a suggestion would be the 3 or 4 second rule

By being aware of motorcyclists on the road, motorists can help reduce the occurance of accidents and fatalities. As the weather warms up, more motorcycles will be on the roadways and it is important to be aware of them as well as respect their priviledges on the roads.

If you are in need of a Myrtle Beach SC motorcycle accident attorney, Conway lawyer Dirk Derrick at The Derrick Law Firm has been handling motorcycle accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death claims in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway SC for over 23 years. Please call 843-248-7486 today.