When you don't watch for motorcycles people can die

This week is being dedicated to motorcycle safety as we are currently in Sturgis week 2012. 






Let me explain to those of you who do not understand motorcycles.....just because they can go faster, maneuver easier does not mean they can avoid YOU if you don't see them.  They are trusting each and every person driving four plus wheels to be paying attention to what is around you.  Honestly, when you are driving you should always be doing this anyway...but those on bikes are trusting YOU with THEIR lives.

I have written about distracted drivers and how quickly it can go from bad to worse.  Take that text you send to tell your friend you are five minutes away.....going 55 miles per hour you will travel the length of a football field. 

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation in 2010 1 in 5 traffic fatalities were motorcyclists.  I know there are arguements that these numbers are high because Colorado does not have mandatory helmet laws.  There are pros and cons about this law but that is not what I want to focus on....I want to focus on if you are watching for motorcycles and you are paying attention YOUR actions will not cause an accident.  Those of us who ride motorcycles take a higher risk of injury because we are on two wheels, we have less protection than you do in your vehicles and it is harder to see us IF YOU AREN'T paying attention and looking over your shoulder when you change lanes.  (This should be common practice no matter what.)


Yes, more often than not, motorcycle accidents happen to the "less experienced" riders than the one's who have been riding forever BUT we all started out as inexperienced drivers at one time or another no matter what we drove and no matter if they have only one year experience or 40 years experience riding a motorcyle their lives are precious to someone and no one should be hurt or lose their lives because of a distracted driver....no matter what they drive.
Watch this video on how quickly an accident can happen when you aren't watching for motorcycles.

If each person who gets behind the wheel of a car, truck, semi and, yes even a motorcycle pay attention to their surroundings we can all be safer.

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