May is Motorcycle Awareness Month

Watch out for motorcycles

Sunshine and warm weather have drawn many motorcyclists to area roadways, leading riders and

clubs throughout our area to stress the need for

motorists to be aware of motorcycle riders.

The smarter-usa.org website lists a number of reasons

why motorists don't see motorcyclists approaching.

Some of which include motorcyclists wearing camouflage attire that prevents the rider from standing out from the background, looming below the threshold of detection, threat seen by motorist but not identified as important, expectation/rarity of encounter, estimated speed less

than actual; negligence: did not look, hidden: obstruction

by foreground object, physiology: bad eyesight, restricted movement, memory recall: pop-out not retained and chemical impairment: drink or drugs.

Motorcycle awareness campaigns remind motorists that motorcycles may be present in the traffic mix; and they

encourage drivers to make a conscious assessment

before executing a turn or making a lane change to determine whether a powered two-wheeled vehicle, operated by a two-legged person, already occupies

the path of travel they

intend to take.

Several states have "Live Free, Ride Alive" "Start seeing Motorcycles" "Arrive Alive" and other campaigns that

were started in recent years to reduce motorcycle

crashes and fatalities on public roadways. These campaigns remind riders to take it easy out there and accept personal responsibility for their actions, and addresses such issues as drinking and riding, speeding,

and being properly trained and licensed to operate a motorcycle,

But no matter how safe we try to be, if the motoring

public does not see us, we are still at risk. Please

watch out for the motorcycles and help keep us safe

and alive.