Koon's Watch

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. With the weather heating up and more people on vacation, the roads are getting busier and our attention spans shorter.

The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is partnering with Lexington County Sheriff’s Department to remind all motorists to Share the Road to help keep motorcyclists safe.

Motorcyclists are about 27 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash, and five times more likely to be injured.

It is essential that vehicle drivers pay complete attention on the roads. Even the smallest momentary lapse in a vehicle driver’s awareness can result in the death of an unseen motorcyclist.

Motorcycles are among the smallest vehicles on the road, putting riders at greater risk of death and serious injury in a crash.

Do your part to stay safe on the road.

Motorists:

• Always use a turn signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.

• Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.

• Always allow more follow distance — 3 to 4 seconds — when behind a motorcycle. This gives them more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

Motorcyclists:

• Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers.

• Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear. This | can drastically increase survival rates in the event of a crash.

• Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility.

Never ride or drive while impaired or distracted. A DUI costs $10,000 on average, and can lead to jail time, loss of your driver’s license, and higher insurance rates.

We want to spread the word to vehicle drivers to keep an eye out for motorcyclists and to always remember to Share the Road.