Motorcycle safety tips to post at work

Be alert for motorcycles

Most everyone has heard by now about the bikers in Phoenix who were killed when a speeding dump truck plowed into them while they were stopped at a red light. We who ride also know from personal experience how inattentive drivers can be so very often.

Just this morning, as I was headed over to my local ABATE meeting, I was pulling up on a guy who I suspected would want to move into my lane. I saw him check his mirror just as I pulled into his blind spot. He did not do a head check. I moved left and hit the throttle and pulled up alongside where he couldn't help but see me just as he started his move into my lane. He swerved back into his own.

We see things like this all the time. Well, here's a flyer put out by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation that I suggest you print out and post on the bulletin board where you work. I posted this thing here about a year ago but it's worth doing again. The text is below but click the link and you'll have a better sheet to print and post.

Print this flyer from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) and post it on the bulletin board at your work for your co-workers to see and learn.

Here's the text.

QUICK TIPS: Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles

1. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle; they ignore it (usually unintentionally). Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.
2. Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also 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 looks.
3. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.
4. Because of its small size a motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Don't assume all motorcyclists are speed demons.
5. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.
7. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
8. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
9. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can't always stop "on a dime."
10. When a motorcycle is in motion, don't think of it as motorcycle; think of it as a person.