Motorcycle Safety Tips

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Whether you are a motorist or a motorcyclist, everyone should be reminded to ‘Share the Road’ during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May. The effort by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is to reduce injuries and fatalities on our nation’s roadways while getting motorists to look out for one another.

The latest data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis revealed there were 5,579 motorcyclists killed in 2020, an increase of 11% from the year before. An estimated 82,528 motorcyclists were injured in 2020, a 2% decrease from motorcyclists injured the year prior, the NHTSA reported.

The agency reported in states without universal helmet laws, 57% of motorcyclists killed in 2020 were not wearing helmets compared to 11% in states with universal helmet laws. In addition, 36% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2020 were riding without valid motorcycle licenses.

To prevent a crash with a motorcycle, the NHTSA has these tips for motorists:

Allow a motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times as its operator has all the rights of the road as any other motorist
Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic
If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful because motorcycle signals often don’t turn off on their own and could have been forgotten
Always ensure that the motorcycle is turning before proceeding
Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections
Always allow more follow distance when behind a motorcycle as this gives them more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency

The NHTSA has these tips for motorcyclists when they are riding:

Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear
Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility
Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed
Use hand and turn signals at every lane change or turn
Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers

With MAPFRE Insurance, Motorcycle Experience and Safety Course Discounts are available for licensed drivers who have more than one year of motorcycle driving experience. Additional savings could be available if you’ve participated in a motorcycle safety course. Contact your independent agent for more information!

Please Note: This is meant only to provide general information about commonly available insurance coverages. Except as expressly noted, this content is not intended to describe any specific coverage offered by MAPFRE Insurance. No coverage is provided, bound or guaranteed by this article. Available coverages, credits and discounts vary from state to state and are subject to eligibility criteria and policy terms/conditions, which will control in the event of conflict between this article and your insurance policy. For information about your policy, please review your individual policy contract and speak with your insurance representative.

MAPFRE Insurance® is a brand and service mark of MAPFRE U.S.A. Corp. and its affiliates, American Commerce Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 4928-8); Citation Insurance Company^SM; The Commerce Insurance Company^SM; Commerce West Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 1372-2); and MAPFRE Insurance Company^SM (Cal. COA 3039-5). Not all products available in all states.

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