Spring is coming to New York and the number of motorcycle riders on the road will soon be climbing. It’s important that we all take a moment to review motorcycle safety. Accidents involving motorcycles more frequently cause fatal injuries.

While motor vehicle accidents overall have declined in recent years, accidents involving motorcycles have increased. One reason for the increase in motorcycle accident injuries and deaths is an overall increase in motorcycles. More people are riding motorcycles now than ever before. With an increase in the number of bikes on our roads comes an increase in the risk of those bikes being involved in an accident.

In New York, 170 people died in motorcycle crashes in 2012, the most recent year of complete data, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For Riders

Motorcyclists have to treat safety as a full-time job. If you’re hit by a car while riding a motorcycle, there’s a good chance you’ll be seriously or fatally injured. You can’t control the actions of other drivers though. So, practicing the most stringent safety precautions could mean the difference between life and death.

• Always wear a helmet. The NHTSA reports helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclist’s lives in 2008 alone. This year, a helmet could save your life.
• Wear protective clothing. A helmet won’t protect your arms, legs, and torso, but protective clothing may. Bright colors make you more visible and full-coverage leather or specially designed clothes can protect you if your bike goes down.
• Don’t drive impaired. Balance and coordination play a big role in piloting a motorcycle. Both of these are severely affected by consuming alcohol and drugs. Never get on a bike after drinking.
• Never ride in blind-spots. When you are on a motorcycle, it’s easy to become invisible to truckers. Stay out of their blind-spots to avoid being hit by these largest vehicles.
• Maintain a safe speed. For many, speeding on a motorcycle is an adrenaline rush, a way to have fun. But when you’re at top speed, the slightest bump in the road or evasive maneuver could send you through the air.
• Drive safe for the conditions. Riding on a wet road can be very precarious on a motorcycle. If the weather is questionable, play it safe and stay off the road.
• Avoid tailgating. If a car comes to a quick stop, a front-end impact could easily eject you over the top of a vehicle. Keep a safe distance between your bike and the cars surrounding you.

For motorists

When you share the road with motorcycles, you also have a responsibility to remain alert for motorcycles. A collision that would cause a fender bender with another car could be fatal to someone on a motorcycle. You can decrease your risk of being involved in a motorcycle accident by practicing the following:

• Always be aware of your surroundings. Motorcycles can be more difficult to see than cars, so always keep an eye out for them.
• Always use your turn signal before changing lanes or merging. Give motorcycles time to get out of the way.
• Allow a greater following distance behind motorcycles.
• Check and check again before turning, merging, or changing lanes.
• Give a motorcycle the whole traffic lane. Just because they are smaller than you doesn’t mean they aren’t entitled to a whole lane in traffic.

Preventing motorcycle accidents is everyone’s responsibility. As the weather warms and people take their bikes out of storage, it’s especially important that we remember the risks involved with this fun pastime.