LOOK TWICE – Save a Life! 1

GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATIONASSOCIATION

Motorist Awareness DivisionMotorist Awareness Division

Think Motorcycles Seminar

November 2008

LOOK TWICE – Save a Life! 2

The purpose of this seminar is to make you more Familiar with motorcycles. In this presentation we will discuss: Why Familiarity Helps Who Rides Motorcycles Road Hazards Why Motorists Collide with Motorcycles

• Blind Spots

• Driver Distractions

• How You Can Help

Overview

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FamiliarityFamiliarity

Why Familiarity? “Research shows drivers who also ride

motorcycles and those with family members or close friends who ride are more likely to observe motorcyclists and less likely to collide with them.”

(Brooks, 1990)

Becoming familiar with motorcycles reduces the odds that one day you will have a collision with one.

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1955 - 450,000 motorcycles registered in U.S. 1970 - 1.1 million motorcycles registered in U.S. 1975 - 5 million motorcycles registered in U.S. Today estimates of motorcycles registered in the

U.S. alone exceed 10 million. There are more motorcycles on the road today than ever before.

Motorcycles are more difficult to detect in traffic & Motorists need to “Think Motorcycles” & train themselves to look for them.

FamiliarityFamiliarity

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FamiliarityFamiliarity

Be aware most crashes involving motorcyclists are due to the failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic.

75% of motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle.

66% of motorcycle crashes with other vehicles are caused by the motorist failing to yield the right-of-way.

Over 40% of all motorcycle crashes occur at intersections.

Who Rides Motorcycles The motorcycling community is a diverse

cross section of our population, who ride for many different reasons.

Many people are turning to small

economical motorcycles

for commuting.

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Who Rides Motorcycles

Numerous people are turning to

V-Twin cruisers for commuting and

local cruising enjoyment. A fun &

economical form of transportation.

Sport Bike enthusiasts use this type of motorcycle for commuting & sport riding.

Who Rides Motorcycles

Those riding a motorcycle like this might be commuting, they might be out for a local cruise or be vacationing on a long distance tour. These motorcycles combine the features of comfort, handling, and great fuel economy.

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Who Rides Motorcycles

Some people convert their motorcycles to three wheels like the Trike conversion on the left or the side-car on the right. These machines are still motorcycles offering better stability, and fuel economy equal to that of economical automobiles.

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Who Rides Motorcycles

The motorcycling community is a diverse cross section of our population.

Anyone might ride a motorcycle! Sometimes even children ride as passengers.

Riders are real people, just like you, with families that love and depend on them, just like you!

The motorcyclist next to you in traffic could be your child’s teacher, your friend, neighbor, plumber, doctor, or even one of your family members.

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Road Hazards

Motorcyclists use the entire traffic lane even though they occupy only part of the lane at one time.

A motorcycle may suddenly change direction, slow or come to a sudden stop to avoid road hazards.

Road hazards having little effect on motorists could result in serious consequences for motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists may move about in the lane to be more visible to other motorists.

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Road Hazards include animals! Deer, other wildlife, and domestic animals at large.

Animals can damage your car. They can cause serious injury or result in a fatality to motorcyclists.

Road Hazards

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Road Hazards

Motorcyclists must take evasive action to avoid road

debris. Thrown tire re-treads, boards, animal carcasses and other objects can cause a motorcyclist to loose control & result in a crash.

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Road Hazards

Road Hazards, like this lost muffler, suddenly appearing in front of a motorcyclist is a serious event.

The rider must take immediate evasive action. Striking heavy objects like this will likely result in a motorcycle crash.

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Road Hazards

Railroad crossings can also pre also present hazards to

motorcycles.What about that loose stuffin the left lane?

A large pothole like thiscan be trouble too!

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Why Motorists Collide with Motorcycles Motorists fail to look for motorcycles. Motorists are familiar with looking for other motorists, not motorcycles.

Due to their smaller size, motorists often misjudge a motorcycles speed & distance.

Motorcycle is temporarily obscured from motorist view as the result of a blind spot.

Driver distractions or inattention.

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Blind Spots

There are many factors contributing to Blind Spots.

Due to the inherent engineering designs of vehicles every motor vehicle has built-in Blind Spots.

Window pillar posts, mirrors, and areas of the road not visible in mirrors are Blind Spots found in all motor vehicles. Some makes & models are worse than others.

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Blind Spots

Additional Blind Spots are sometimes created by motorists hanging objects from mirrors, and by attaching objects to windshields or windows. Anything placed in such a manner obscuring a drivers view of the roadway creates a Blind Spot.

Passengers & Pets inside a vehicle can contribute to a Blind Spot.

Factors outside a vehicle such as other vehicles, buildings, trees, utility poles, signs, along with numerous other objects create temporary Blind Spots.

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Blind Spots

In the left photo, a pillar post creates a Blind Spot and completely hides a motorcycle & rider from the drivers view.

The right photo shows what was hidden from the drivers view.

Blind Spots can also obscure much larger objects!

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Blind Spots

In the left photo, the driver checks the vehicles left mirror prior to a lane change. The driver observes no vehicles. A quick check over the left shoulder, depicted in the photo on the right, and you can see the motorcyclist was hidden in the mirrors Blind Spot. A quick look over the shoulder, left or right, can prevent a crash!

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Blind Spots

The left photo is an example of Blind Spots motorists create for themselves. The right photo depicts what was blocked from view.

If this placard can obscure a dump truck, it can easily hide a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist. Why Risk It?

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Blind Spots

Every motorist needs to be aware of Blind Spots and learn to compensate for them.

Avoid rolling stops with the quick look, or one day the Blind Spot will catch up with you, and unfortunately someone else along with you.

Drive Aware – Expect motorcycles or other vehicles to be hidden from view in Blind Spots.

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Driver Distractions

In today’s society motorists are diverting more & more attention away from the primary task of the safe operation of their vehicle.

Now we add cellular telephones and navigation systems to the mix of other distractions.

Passengers, eating, smoking, shaving, applying make-up, reading, and managing audio systems are all traditional driver distractions.

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Driver Distractions

The safe operation of your vehicle should be your primary concern. Operating a motor vehicle in itself is a complex operation requiring concentration along with hand, foot and eye coordination.

The more distracted a motorist becomes, the greater the odds of a collision.

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How You Can Help

Think Motorcycles – Every time you drive expect motorcycles to be on the road with you.

Make it your practice to actively look for motorcycles. In time it will become a habit & you will reduce the chances of having a collision with a motorcyclist.

Share the Road – Be courteous, signal your intentions of a turn or lane change. Check the Blind Spots before you move.

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How You Can Help

Give motorcycles more space than you would give other vehicles. Remember motorcycles do not have protective exteriors like other motor vehicles.

Allow at least a 3-second following distance behind a motorcycle during good driving conditions. In poor weather or wet roads increase the following distance to 5-seconds.

Be especially cautious at intersections & when entering or exiting driveways.

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Keep multi-tasking to a minimum – Focus on the primary task at hand, the safe operation of your vehicle.

Drive Aware – Motorcycles are everywhere!

“Have You Seen a Motorcycle Today?”

How You Can Help

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LOOK TWICE – Save a Life! 30

LOOK TWICE – Save a Life! 31

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!And Please - And Please - LOOK TWICE!LOOK TWICE!

November 2008

GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATIONASSOCIATION

Motorist Awareness DivisionMotorist Awareness Division