May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in North Carolina
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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in North Carolina

Motorcycle related injuries decreased in North Carolina from 2014 to 2015, with 3,618 reported injuries in 2014 and 3,359 in 2015

May 3, 2016

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has proclaimed May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to encourage drivers to share the road with people riding motorcycles and to remind motorcyclists to practice safe riding habits.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Governor's Highway Safety Program will promote motorcycle safety during May to help prevent motorcycle crashes, deaths, and injuries on North Carolina roadways.

According to NCDOT, motorcycle related injuries in North Carolina decreased from 3,618 in 2014 to 3,359 in 2015. Crashes involving motorcyclists also decreased from 3,783 in 2014 to 3,641 in 2015. However, motorcycle fatalities increased 14.2 percent from 148 in 2014 to 169 in 2015.

As the weather warms and days grow longer, more people are on the roads, including more than 469,000 North Carolina drivers with a motorcycle endorsement. That makes motorcycle safety awareness especially important heading into the busy summer travel season.

"We want motorists to understand motorcycle safety challenges such as size and visibility, and riding practices like downshifting and weaving to be able to anticipate and respond to motorcyclist behavior," said Don Nail, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program. "Our message is for all drivers and riders: share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe, always share the road."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 1,630 lives were saved in 2014 because of proper helmet use, and that another 715 lives could have been saved if helmets had been worn. A rider who is not wearing a helmet is five times more likely to sustain a critical head injury than a helmeted rider, according to NHTSA. North Carolina law requires all motorcyclists to wear a helmet that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218.

The GHSP BikeSafe North Carolina program invites motorcyclists to participate in a free Rider Skills Day that offers an assessment of current skills and advice to help make riding safer and more enjoyable. For more information, including a full schedule of classes, visit the BikeSafe North Carolina website.

Safety Tips for Motorcyclists

  • Wear a DOT compliant helmet and full protective gear.
  • Obey all traffic laws and ride only if you are properly licensed.
  • Use hand and turn signals at every lane change or turn.
  • Increase your visibility with bright or reflective clothing and gear.
  • Maintain a safe speed and create extra space in poor weather or low light.
  • Never ride distracted or impaired.

Safety Tips for Other Drivers

  • Share the road. Motorcyclists are entitled to a full lane.
  • Look twice at intersections and before changing lanes. Motorcycles can be hidden in blind spots.
  • Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
  • Leave more following distance behind motorcycles, about three to four seconds.
  • Be cautious with turn signals. Not all motorcycle signals self cancel.
  • Obey posted speed limits and never drive distracted or impaired.