On the heels of the Great Canadian Bike Rally in Merritt this past weekend and heading into this week’s Sturgis North event in Vernon means that there are larger than usual numbers of motorcycles on the road.
Local Harley-Davidson dealer, Kane’s Harley-Davidson, wants to raise motorcycle awareness in an effort to increase the safety of riders on the road this week.
“Share the Road” is their campaign and it kicks off with the Summer Sizzle Kick-off event on Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 at 4 p.m. at:
Kane’s Harley-Davidson
888 McCurdy Place
Kelowna BC
V1X 8C8
“As the weather improves, more and more motorcyclists are hitting the roads,” said Blair Kane of Kane’s Harley-Davidson. “And with that in mind, pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers of all vehicles need to be extra attentive and make sure they ‘share the road.’ A motorcycle is one of the smallest vehicles on our roads, often hidden in a car or truck’s blind spot. Every driver needs to aggressively look for them before changing lanes or merging with traffic.”
This news from the press release: Motorcyclist fatalities increased slightly in 2010 to 4,502, accounting for 14 percent of total fatalities for the year. This increase in motorcycle fatalities for the year resumes the unfortunate overall increasing trend over the last 13 years, an upward trend that saw only a single one-year decline in 2009.
Kane’s Harley-Davidson offered tips for drivers to help keep motorcyclists safe on our roadways.
· Remember, a motorcycle is a vehicle with all of the rights and privileges of any other motor vehicle.
· Always allow a motorcyclist the full lane width—never try to share a lane.
· Perform a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections.
· Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
· Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals are often not self-cancelling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed.
· Allow more following distance – three or four seconds – when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to manoeuvre or stop in an emergency.
· Never tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.
· Never drive while distracted.
Kane’s Harley-Davidson said motorcyclists can increase their safety by:
· Avoiding riding in poor weather conditions;
· Wearing brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet;
· Using turn signals for every turn or lane change, even if the rider thinks no one will see it;
· Combining hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to themselves;
· Using reflective tape and stickers to increase conspicuity;
· Positioning themselves in the lane where they will be most visible to other drivers; and
· Never driving while impaired.
