Setting The Standard For Commercial & Residential Engineering

As the warmer season revs up, drivers are now more likely to be sharing the road with motorcycles. Motorcycle Awareness Month is observed in May and is a good time to remind drivers to take extra care while sharing the road. Agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Safety Council, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) come together to remind vehicle drivers and motorists that safe driving and riding practices plus cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation's highways. Did you know more than half of fatal motorcycle crashes result from collisions with other vehicles? Because of its small size, motorcycles can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots or masked by objects such as bushes or fences while at an intersection. Furthermore, the combination of congested roadways and distracted driving increase the difficulty of seeing motorcycles in traffic. These factors have led to many preventable fatalities each year. On average, more than one motorcyclist is killed on Texas roads every day . In 2022, 562 motorcycle riders were killed in motor vehicle crashes, an 8% increase over the previous year. And another 2,422 people were seriously injured. TxDOT’s annual safety campaign "Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles" aims to protect motorcyclists by educating drivers on how to safely share the road. Below are a few safety precautions all motorists should keep in mind to help prevent motorcycle crashes: Stay alert. Give driving your full attention. Even a momentary distraction, such as answering a phone call or changing the radio station, can have deadly consequences. Pay special attention at intersections. One-third of all motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections. Take extra care when making a left turn. Always assume motorcycles are closer than they appear and avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Look twice when changing lanes. Check mirrors, check blind spots, and always use turn signals. Following these safety tips can help save lives and reduce injuries on our Texas roads.