MOTORCYCLE SAFETY TIPS FROM PENNDOT

With the Spring/Summer motorcycle riding season commencing, as a public service, the personal injury lawyers at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., want to share important information about motorcycle safety from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

(Source:  http://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/Safety/TrafficSafetyAndDriverTopics/Pages/Motorcycle-Safety.aspx).

Safety Tips for Motorcyclists

Riders can improve their safety on the road by following some simple safety tips:

  • Wear a U.S. DOT-approved helmet, face or eye protection and protective clothing.
  • Know your motorcycle and conduct a pre-ride check.
  • Be seen. Wear reflective clothing and put reflective tape on your protective riding gear and motorcycle.
  • Use common sense by riding sober, obeying all speed limits and allowing enough time to react to dangerous situations.
  • Practice safe-riding techniques and know how to handle your motorcycle in adverse road and weather conditions. Road conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces that usually pose minor annoyances to motorists are in fact major hazards for motorcyclists.
  • Consider attending free training via PennDOT’s Motorcycle Safety Program.
  • During spring riding, be cautious of gravel buildup from winter road maintenance on the edges of roadways and near intersections. Riders can report hazardous conditions due to gravel along the road to 1-800-FIX-ROAD.

Safety Tips for Motorists Sharing the Road with Motorcycles

  • Look out for motorcyclists — be aware that motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see. Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections. Large vehicles can also block a motorcycle from a motorist’s view and a motorcycle can suddenly appear out of nowhere.
  • Allow more following distance — leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
  • Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
  • Respect a motorcycle as a full-size vehicle with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions.

The attorneys at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., are concerned for the safety of motor vehicle drivers and passengers in Berks County and Schuylkill County, and serve accident victims and their families in Reading, PA, Pottsville, PA, and throughout Eastern and Central Pennsylvania.

From the desk of Adam K. Levin, Esquire

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