To protect the public and promote safe driving on our highways, Governor Sonny Perdue is proclaiming May 2008 as “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month” to remind motorists to “Share the Road” with motorcycles as they make their annual spring return to Georgia’s roadways. Visibility becomes a key safety issue as Georgia’s moderate May temperatures bring thousands of these riders back to Georgia highways.

“So many Georgia citizens enjoy riding motorcycles now, so we encourage all Georgia drivers to be cautious and observe these smaller vehicles as they return to Georgia’s roads this spring,” said Director Bob Dallas of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).

The most common safety problem for motorcycles is that they’re often hidden in a driver’s blind spot or missed at intersections due to their smaller profile. In fact, most motorcycle crashes occur during daylight hours at intersections.

The Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month campaign is jointly promoted by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) and ABATE of Georgia (American Bikers Active Toward Education) working together to reduce the number of motorcycle crashes, injuries and fatalities on our roadways.

“We have growing support among rider groups, law enforcement agencies, and traffic safety organizations to create a safer riding environment because during recent years, Georgia has experienced a steady increase in fatal motorcycle crashes,” says GOHS Director Bob Dallas. In 2006 alone, 148 motorcyclists died on Georgia roads. Another 3,082 were injured.

But the most alarming statistics about Georgia motorcycle crashes reveal that in the recent six-year period from 2000 through 2006, motorcycle crashes here have increased 97.2-percent. And the corresponding number of motorcycle fatalities in Georgia has increased 147-percent during that time!

“So the target audience of our awareness campaign includes both passenger vehicle drivers and motorcycle operators,” says Director Dallas. “Our principle concerns are to increase driver recognition of motorcyclists in traffic, while at the same time encouraging motorcyclists to engage in the overall safe operation of their motorcycles.” The number of Georgia crashes in 2006 totaled 4,041.

Motorists are encouraged to always look out for motorcycles; especially at intersections, when performing lane changes, or while passing other vehicles. “Motorists need to be especially alert when making a left turn to insure that a motorcycle is not coming straight through the intersection,” says Director Dallas.

Highway safety officials and Georgia motorcyclists ask that all highway users get in the habit of looking for motorcycles as they drive, not just during the May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, but throughout the entire year. Motorists also need to ‘Share the Road’, remembering that a motorcycle is entitled to a full lane. Keeping a safe distance from the motorcycle allows the motorcycle operator the opportunity to maneuver the motorcycle to avoid road hazards or other dangerous traffic conditions.

Most motorists are surprised to learn that more than two-thirds of car-motorcycle crashes are caused by drivers of other motor vehicles, not by motorcyclists. The other drivers either didn’t see the oncoming motorcycles at all, or didn’t see the motorcycles in time to avoid a crash.

That’s the best reason why motorcyclists should always ride in a defensive operator mode, within the rules of the road, and constantly prepared to take evasive action if necessary. Riders should remember they have an equal share of safety responsibility on the road, which includes riding equipped with proper protective riding gear, including a DOT-rated motorcycle safety helmet.

All operators are encouraged to enroll in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation training offered through the Georgia Department of Driver Services. It’s important both for legal and safety purposes that every rider has a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license and that motorcycles are also properly licensed. Make a note to do it this May!

Rider responsibility includes keeping in mind that weather conditions, road surfaces and fatigue pose greater problems to motorcyclists than to other motorists. It makes good road sense to keep motorcycles in good operating condition using safety and maintenance checks found in the owner’s manual. “And it just make sense that motorcycle operators should keep themselves alert and in optimum highway condition as well,“ says GOHS Director Dallas, who became a rider himself to become better familiar with the challenges facing operators on the road.

“Riders should avoid the use of alcoholic beverages before and during the operation of motorcycles,” says Dallas. “The data shows there’s an abnormally high occurrence of crashes, death and injury among motorcyclists when alcohol or drugs are added to the equation and these numbers don’t lie. Help us take Georgia’s motorcyclists off the endangered species list.”

To receive free brochures about “What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Safety” visit the GOHS website at www.gahighwaysafety.org. For more information about Georgia’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program and how to help drivers and riders be more aware of each other on the road, contact GOHS Motorcycle Safety Program Planner Fred Huff at 404-656-6996.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Public Information Unit

Jim Shuler, Public Affairs Director – 404-656-6996 – jshuler@gohs.ga.us

34 Peachtree Street—Suite 800—One Park Tower— Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Visit us on the web at www.georgiahighwaysafety.org

Sonny Perdue, Governor

Robert F. Dallas, Director