Motorcycle Safety Awareness

For Motorcycle Riders:

1. Use protective gear. State law requires motorcyclists and their passengers to wear US DOT approved helmets and eye protection. Protective clothing, such as jacket, boots and gloves reduce injury severity.
2. Use turn signals for every turn or lane change. Consider combining hand signals and turn signals to communicate better with other motorists.
3. Drive defensively. Looking far down the road allows extra time and space to react to road hazards or other distracted drivers.
4. Do not ride between the lanes, it is not safe nor is it legal to pass a vehicle within the same lane.
5. Get proper training and save money. The Registry of Motor Vehicles sponsors the Massachusetts Rider Education Program. It is an approved training course for motorcycle riders. The successful completion of the course allows motorcyclists to get a 10% insurance discount.

Tips for Drivers of Other Vehicles:

6. Motorcycles have the right to use the full lane width. Motorcyclists often need the full lane to view traffic and respond to hazards such as potholes. Crowding a lane is both dangerous and illegal.
7. Maintain a safe following distance. Your vehicle requires more distance to stop than a motorcycle. Remember, a motorcyclist can be severely injured in a crash.
8. Be aware of oncoming motorcycles before turning. A high number of crashes occur when cars or trucks turn left in front of a motorcycle.
9. Do not be fooled by a flashing turn signal. Motorcycle signals do not turn off by themselves and riders often forget about them.
10. Check twice and save a life. Motorcyclists are smaller and less visible than cars or trucks and they can be easily missed in your blind spot when changing lanes.