PSA: May is Motorcycle awareness month

pirategal03 · May 2012

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is supporting Motorcycle Awareness Month during May to help remind people to look around and be aware of motorcyclists.

Weather is getting warmer across the country, and May is the time when more bikers feel like the weather is right to be out on the roads.

I know that many motorcyclists don't practice safe techniques. But don't let those fools stop you from taking extra precautions to look out for those who do. Make sure you're really checking your blind spot, look twice at intersections (for real look, glancing doesn't count), use your turn signal even if you don't think there are other vehicles around. Small things like these can save lives.

If you're so inclined, Allstate is donating $1/click on this site to purchasing "Watch for Motorcycles" road signs to put up at known dangerous intersections across the country. http://www.facebook.com/AllstateMotorcycle/app_380585548639738

This month also marks 2 years since my mother was killed by a driver who "just didn't see her" at an intersection, so this one hits really close to home.

Just a PSA, it's a soapbox for me.

kd.joseph · May 2012

Thanks Pirate!

So sorry about your mother. {{hugs}}

We ride and I've seen countless people just do stupid crap. And the fact that most people are so distracted with other things as well, only makes it worse. Glad you posted this!

jemmini6 · May 2012

So sorry about your mom.

H wrecked his motorcycle a few days before our wedding (he was avoiding someone who didn't see him, and his brakes stuck and caused his bike to come out from under him, luckily it was coming to a light, so he was only going about 20mph), but his helmet definitely saved him a lot of injuries. I always get sad when I see others riding without helmets because there are so many people who just don't see motorcyclists (no helmet laws in AZ). Thanks for the reminder!

ErinG93 · May 2012

Thanks, Pirate. H sold his motorcycles a couple years ago, but he's had several nasty injuries from not so careful drivers. Hugs to you, I'm sorry about your mom.

And, wear a helmet! Always.

pirategal03 · May 2012

I always forget about the helmet thing because it's the law here, plus it's second nature to me. Wear your dang helmet! It's crazy not to. There are really comfortable helmets out there. I have a full-face flip-up that I love.

ETA: and thanks, I don't want to be debbie downer, but this stuff's important

pirategal03 · May 2012

Jemmini I saw where you'd posted about that in the last couple days, scary! I'm glad he was okay.

Bkseller13 · May 2012

Sorry about your mother.

A semi-funny story. A lady I worked with at the bookstore used to be an emergency room nurse. A big scary biker dude came in with shorts and a wifebeater on and had a ton of gravel in his huge roadrash. Linda is 4'11", this guy was 6'4". He starts yelling at her about how much it hurt to have all this gravel picked out. She got right close to his face and said, "If you'd been wearing your leathers, we wouldn't be here, so shut up and deal." He mellowed right out.

ErinG93 · May 2012

It's a law here too, but not in Idaho (8 miles to the border.) H has friends who ride with helmets and take them off as soon as they cross into Idaho. It's fucking stupid.

jemmini6 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_psa-may-is-motorcycle-awareness-month?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:670f9b26-0d41-4c54-82f8-c46350def7f2Post:3307e81d-411b-4ad2-9e9c-cd95bb27bd54">Re: PSA: May is Motorcycle awareness month</a>:
[QUOTE]It's a law here too, but not in Idaho (8 miles to the border.) H has friends who ride with helmets and take them off as soon as they cross into Idaho. It's fucking stupid.
Posted by ErinG93[/QUOTE]

That's so dumb. Every time H sees someone not wearing his helmet, he always says he should show them the picture of his helmet after his crash and tell them that that was only 20 mph. (you could see where his head hit the asphault, I don't even want to imagine what that would have done to his face if he wasn't wearing it). People think they are invincible or something...

Summer2011Bride · May 2012

In Response to Re: PSA: May is Motorcycle awareness month:
[QUOTE]I always forget about the helmet thing because it's the law here, plus it's second nature to me. Wear your dang helmet! It's crazy not to. There are really comfortable helmets out there. I have a full-face flip-up that I love. ETA: and thanks, I don't want to be debbie downer, but this stuff's important
Posted by pirategal03[/QUOTE]

Yeah it's not the law here and I see SO many people riding without helmets. A good friend and her boyfriend were in a very serious motorcycle accident back in Sept. They were going about 30 around a corner, hit gravel, and were thrown from the bike. She almost died because of brain injuries. The bike landed on his foot and they almost had to amputate it. Needless to say, they both said they were never riding again.

I totally agree people need to be more aware of bikers on the road. But I do also think all people who ride need to wear helmets because some accidents (like my friend's) don't even involve other cars and they can seriously save lives. I have no idea why this is not a law in all 50 states.

Lizzieyounce · May 2012

What irks the crap out of me is seeing riders in flip flops, no leathers, no helmet...just shorts, wife beater and flip flops. To a person, they also weave in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed.

I ride like everyone is out to kill me.

I always gear up. I was grateful for my gear when I dropped my bike, especially my helmet.

FI is a cop, he's seen some pretty gruesome MC accidents with unhelmeted/unequiped riders.

I'm sorry about your mom, Pirate.

PSA: May is Motorcycle awareness month

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