RALEIGH – Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to bring
awareness to motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries on North Carolina
roadways. Motorists are encouraged to share the road and watch closely for
motorcycles and riders to practice safe riding.
“Vehicle drivers can unintentionally become huge dangers to a
motorcyclist’s safety,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the N.C. Governor’s
Highway Safety Program “Motorists need to pay more attention to their
surroundings and drive more safely when motorcyclists are on the road with
them.”
Motorcyclists are nearly five times more likely to be injured and
29 times more likely to be killed in a crash than any other vehicle. A rider not
wearing a helmet is five times more likely to sustain a critical head
injury.
In 2017, there were 3,600 motorcycle-related crashes that resulted
in 141 fatalities and 592 serious injuries. This was an eight percent reduction
from 2016, when there were 151 rider fatalities. However, in 2018 there have
been 35 fatalities, which is a two percent decrease from the same time a year
ago.
BikeSafe North Carolina invites motorcyclists to participate in a
free “Rider Skills Day” class that offers an assessment of current driving
skills and provides advice to help make their experience as a motorcyclist safer
and more enjoyable. For more information, including a full schedule of classes,
visit www.bikesafenc.com.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Program urges motorcyclists and other
drivers to follow the following safety tips:
Motorcyclists:
- Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear;
- Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed;
- Use hand and turn signals at every lane change or turn;
- Wear brightly colored clothes, gear, and reflective tape to
increase visibility;
- Obey the posted speed limit; and
- Never ride distracted or impaired.
Other drivers:
- Share the road. Motorcyclists have the right to a full lane;
- Stay alert and be aware that motorcycles can be easily hidden in a
car's blind spot, so take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic when
changing lanes, especially at intersections;
- Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic;
- Keep a safe distance by allowing more following space – three to
four seconds – behind motorcycles;
- Be cautious, as not all turn signals on a motorcycle are
self-canceling, thus some riders sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn
or lane change;
- Obey the posted speed limit; and
- Never drive distracted or impaired.
BikeSafe North Carolina complements the NC Vision
Zero initiative, which aims to save lives on North Carolina roadways.
The goal is to reach zero traffic-related fatalities through data-driven safety
interventions.