May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month

[Haole Girl]

The Texas Department of Public Safety has proclaimed that May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month

11:10 AM Tue, May 05, 2009
Selwyn Crawford/Editor

According to a release from the DPS:

In 2008, the DPS Motorcycle Operator Training Program trained a record 41,000 motorcycle operators, up from 33,697 in 2007.

Almost 400 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2007; preliminary fatality reports for 2008 also indicate an increase in fatalities. A high percentage of those crashes involved other vehicles. Most motorcycle crashes occur near intersections, largely because inattentive vehicle drivers fail to see the motorcyclist and give them the right-of way.

"Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car's blind spots such as the door or roof pillars, or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car such as bushes, fences and bridges," said John G. Young, coordinator of the DPS Motorcycle Safety Unit. "Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections."

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/05/the-texas-department-of-public.html
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The comment left by "bikersrights" (see link) just made me sad.

[flamin lib]

1. Visit the DPS website for Motorcycle Awareness and look at

the calendar. Nothing pending.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/

Under Announcements is "Harley Davidson declares May Woman's rider month."

WTF? Motorcycle Awareness month and nothing pending?

[Haole Girl]

2. That's weird

:crazy:

[av8rdave]

3. The last paragraph in your post says a lot

I think one of the most important skills a rider can have is blind spot awareness. Sometimes (not always) it's pretty easy to tell if a driver isn't going to see you.

Be careful out there!