Motorcyle Safety Information

Websites
www.LiveFreeRideAlive.com, PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services Web site, www.dmv.state.pa.us (under the Driver Safety Information Center) and PennDOT’s Highway Safety Web site, www.DriveSafePA.org, offer a comprehensive list of general safety tips for riding a motorcycle. All three Web sites allow you to download the Motorcycle Operator’s Manual and provide links to the Motorcycle Safety Program’s Web site.

Safety Tips
1. Be safe – wear the right gear – you have a far better chance of avoiding serious injury in a crash if you wear an approved DOT helmet, face or eye protection and protective clothing (bright colored clothing, over the ankle foot protection, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and full-fingered gloves).

2. Become familiar with your motorcycle and conduct a pre-ride check to identify any mechanical defects that could jeopardize your safety.

3. Use common sense – don’t ride impaired (drugs and/or alcohol), obey all speed limits, avoid weaving between lanes, don’t ride when tired, respect other drivers, keep a safe distance from other motorists to give yourself enough time to react in potentially dangerous situations and signal your intentions.

4. Be prepared. Practice. Know different riding techniques before going into heavy traffic and know how to handle your motorcycle in hazardous road and weather conditions. Read the Motorcycle Operator’s Manual (available on Web site). Take a PennDOT approved Motorcycle Safety Course.

Tips for Drivers Sharing the Road with Motorcyclists:
1. Look out for motorcyclists – be aware that motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see.

2. Allow more following distance – leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle. Many times, it is difficult for motorists to estimate the speed of a motorcycle.

3. Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic. This allows the motorcyclist to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position. Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals usually are not self canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed.

4. Respect a motorcycle as a full-size vehicle with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions. Absolutely DO NOT share the lane with a motorcyclist.

High-risk situations include:
1. Another vehicle turning left in front of a motorcyclist

2. Motorcyclists hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot – drivers should always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections

3. Hazardous road conditions – road conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces that usually pose minor annoyances to automobile drivers are in fact major hazards for motorcyclists.

4. Weather conditions – braking and handling characteristics of a motorcycle may change with changing weather conditions.

5. Strong winds – a strong gust of wind can move a motorcyclist across an entire line if not prepared for it

6. Large vehicles can block a motorcycle from a driver’s view and a motorcycle can suddenly appear out of nowhere.