Driving Safety Home: It's Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

By Dallas Hammit / ADOT State Engineer

Did you know that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month?

While all of us should remember to share the road year-round, I hope that you’ll use this month to reflect on your driving habits and resolve to be more aware of other motorists, whether they’re driving a vehicle with two wheels or four.

In case you need a refresher, here are some good safety tips:

For all road users

• Remember: A motorcyclist has the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other motorist on the roadway.
• Give a motorcyclist a full lane width to maneuver safely.
• Always look for motorcycles by checking your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
• Motorcycles are smaller and more difficult to see, so keep an eye out.
• Allow more distance – three or four seconds – when following a motorcycle. This gives the motorcycle rider more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

For motorcyclists

• Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed.
• Wear a helmet and use reflective tape and gear to be more visible. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates motorcycle helmets saved an estimated 1,859 lives in 2016.
• Never ride while impaired or distracted – it is not worth the risk of killing or injuring yourself or someone else.
• When it comes to riding a motorcycle, training and safety gear are critical. ADOT encourages all riders to take a state-authorized training course.

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  Editor's Note: More safety messages from Dallas Hammit, ADOT's state engineer and deputy director for transportation, are available at Driving Safety Home on azdot.gov.