Motorcyclists, officials ask for safety on roads this spring Published: Monday, April 7, 2014 7:06 AM US/eastern Paul Gable, Editor As the weather warms up, a familiar sound will return to roadways - the roar of motorcycles. And police, state officials and local motorcycle riders are reminding their friends and fellow bikers to be safe when on the roads this spring and summer. Jamie Farmer-Burns and her husband, Doug, know all too well the dangers of riding a motorcycle on the road. I am very passionate about this subject. It happens way too often, in my opinion. It only takes a few extra seconds to look twice to save yourself the lifelong regret of injuring or possibly killing someone. When this type of thing happens, it affects more than just the motorcyclists, Jamie Farmer-Burns said. Farmer-Burns said many times she and her husband experience someone pulling out in front of them when on their bike. People are always in such a hurry. It is one of my biggest fears. We, as responsible motorcyclists, need to be aware of our surroundings as well. I have seen people riding being stupid, too, thinking they own the road as well. We all have to share the road, she said. Her husband echoed those sentiments. Its that time again. The birds are chirping, the grass is growing and the sound of motorcycles resonate through our neighborhoods. As we all try to share the road and get along, I find close calls by distracted drivers are the norm, he said. Doug Burns said he constantly sees motorists either talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. I immediately extend my bubble or safe zone away from that vehicle. Normally, I accelerate as I ride a loud Harley, and it gets their attention as I pass, but what if I am turning left across opposing traffic? We must trust that people are watching and finding that trust in a cellphone-addicted world is getting harder to do, Burns said. The two ride everywhere together, something Burns said is a huge benefit. She is an extra set of eyes for me. When a car starts changing lanes right into my bike because they didnt see me, I have to maneuver my bike quickly, trying to stay out of the car and loose debris built up on the edge of the pavement while trying to get out of harms way, Burns said. He said hes had friends hit due to motorists not stopping at various intersections, including on State Road 9. Accidents happen, but if motorcyclists and automobile drivers, alike, slow down and take the time to take care of each other and share the road, we may never realize how many lives we can save, Burns said. According to data from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, collisions involving motorcycles increased 3.6 percent and fatal collisions increased 6.4 percent in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, the number of motorcyclists killed on Indiana roads increased by 7.3 percent, from 110 to 118. More than 200,000 motorcycle licenses are registered in the state. Representatives from the Indiana State Police, American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, the Shelbyville Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriffs Department are urging motorcyclists and automobile drivers to be cautious on roadways. Indiana State Police Sgt. Rich Myers said there is an upswing in the number of crashes this time of the year. Sheriffs Maj. David Tilford said his department sees an increase in motorcycle crashes normally in May. Spring is when we do begin to see an increase in the motorcycle accidents. I think the most obvious reason for this is with the warm weather, more motorcyclists are on the roadways, he said. Though Indiana does not have a helmet law, studies show that wearing helmets increase chances of surviving dangerous crashes by up to 33 percent. Officials with ABATE said people need to be aware and train themselves to look for motorcycles. ABATE is a national motorcycle safety and advocacy organization. Tilford said if people driving on the roadways took an extra second to look both ways more than once, they would be more likely to notice a single headlight or a smaller vehicle traveling on the roadway. Aside from motorcycles, we now see more scooters/mo-peds on the roadways. These vehicles are even harder to see with less lighting on them, and they can quickly come out of side streets/alleys and other locations where a driver might not expect to see a vehicle. With both motorcycles and scooters, we generally see less injury with those riders that are wearing protective equipment, he said. ABATE of Indiana Executive Director Jay Jackson said learning how to ride properly can prevent accidents. ABATE offers a 15-hour class with a motorcycle provided. Once motorcyclists are on the road, they should always ride by the see and be seen rule, he said. Motorcycles are harder to see than other vehicles; consequently, many crashes occur because other motorists dont see a motorcycle. All motorists should take the time for a second look before pulling into an intersection or making a turn. It only takes a second to save a life, he said. The Indiana State Police has tips for both passenger vehicles and motorcyclists. In passenger vehicles, ISP says drivers should watch attentively for motorcycles and anticipate any hazards. Also, drivers should allow plenty of following distance between passenger vehicles and motorcycles and to remember that motorcycles are entitled to operate in a full lane. For motorcycle riders, ISP asks that they wear protective equipment, especially a helmet with a face shield and bright clothing, to ride defensively and to look for road hazards. Paul Gable is the editor of The Shelbyville News. Follow Gable on Twitter @PaulGableTSN.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 15:02:14 +0000
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