American Motorcyclist Association Highlights May As Motorcycle Awareness Month
With the beginning of Motorcycle Awareness Month on May 1,
the American Motorcyclist Association is issuing a special appeal
to motorists to be aware of their driving environment, check
mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and, especially, to
watch for motorcyclists.
"The
warmer weather in May brings out the riders who have been
unable to ride all winter, so it presents an excellent opportunity
for us to educate the non-riding public about the safety issues
that affect motorcyclists every time we roll out of our driveways
or onto a trail," said Rob Dingman, AMA president and CEO. "The AMA
is monitoring more than 1,124 state and federal bills that would
affect motorcycling safety or motorcyclists' rights, including many
that deal with rider safety."
Among the top awareness issues in 2015 are distracted driving and
the need for motorcyclist and driver training.
Sean Hutson, AMA government affairs manager for on-highway issues,
said state legislatures are considering more than 150 bills that
deal with distracted driving. Those bills range from prohibitions
on minors using personal electronic devices to bans on the use of
electronic devices by any driver.
Rather than solely seeking bans on specific forms of behavior,
though, the AMA advocates legislation that includes enhanced
penalty options to be determined by the courts in cases where
distracted driving results in a crash.
In addition, the
AMA supports
training programs for motorcyclists -- including advanced
skills courses - and more thorough education for motorists. A new
law in Michigan, for example, requires motorcycle- and
bicycle-awareness and safety instruction in all of the state's
courses for new drivers.
Drivers can avoid crashes with motorcyclists by taking extra care
and looking twice to spot motorcycles in traffic -- especially at
intersections -- respecting the motorcyclists' space on the road
and by not following too closely.
Motorcycle Awareness Month, launched by the AMA in the early 1980s
and adopted by many state motorcycle-rights organizations,
government entities and AMA-sanctioned clubs, is observed each May.
Video and audio messages can be downloaded at
www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/Resources/PublicServiceAnnouncements.aspx.
AMA position statements on distracted and inattentive vehicle
operation and rider education, as well as other subjects, can be
found here: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/positionstatements.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
