May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Torin Halsey, Wichita Falls Times Record News

As the weather warms up and gas prices remain high, more motorcyclists are taking to the streets.

The Texas Department of Transportation wants to remind everyone that May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

Last year, 519 motorcyclists died on Texas roadways, up 7% from the year before, and 2,318 Texas motorcyclists were seriously injured in crashes in 2021.

Roy Tyler, left, and Josh Root of G&S Suzuki, enjoy the warm weather as they ride around downtown Wichita Falls. May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Roy Tyler, left, and Josh Root of G&S Suzuki, enjoy the warm weather as they ride around downtown Wichita Falls. May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

"You're going to see a lot more riders and we see a lot more wrecks at this time of year. People getting their bikes out, they haven't ridden in six months, a year, with gas prices going up the way that they are, a lot more people are getting back on bikes," said Beau Barton, general manager of G&S Suzuki.

Motorcycle riders are less likely to use their cell phones but many accidents are still caused by people texting and driving when they should be paying attention to the road and the other vehicles around them.

Beau Barton, general manager of G&S Suzuki, talks about the need for motorists and motorcyclists alike to be safe on the streets. May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Beau Barton, general manager of G&S Suzuki, talks about the need for motorists and motorcyclists alike to be safe on the streets. May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

Barton, a retired professional Motocross racer, added, "People in vehicles, they need to be looking ahead, same as a motorcycle rider does, I've always rode a mile ahead of myself. I always try to pay attention to things that are going on even further than just the car in front of me."

Josh Root, left, and Roy Tyler take a break from work at G&S Suzuki to ride around downtown. Motorists should be extra vigilant as more motorcyclists take to the streets in summer.
Josh Root, left, and Roy Tyler take a break from work at G&S Suzuki to ride around downtown. Motorists should be extra vigilant as more motorcyclists take to the streets in summer.

TxDOT offers these life-saving safety tips for drivers to protect motorcyclists and prevent crashes:

• Take extra care when making a left turn. Always assume motorcycles are closer than they appear and avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle.

• Pay special attention at intersections. A third of motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections.

• Give driving your full attention. Even a momentary distraction, such as answering a phone call or changing the radio station, can have deadly consequences.

• Look twice when changing lanes. Check mirrors, check blind spots, and always use turn signals.

• Give motorcyclists room when passing them. Move over to the passing lane and don’t crowd the motorcyclist’s full lane.

• Stay back. If you’re behind a motorcycle, always maintain a safe following distance. When a motorcyclist downshifts instead of applying the brake to slow down, it can catch drivers off guard since there are no brake lights to signal reduced speed.

• Slow down. Obey posted speed limits and drive to conditions.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Drivers urged to look twice for motorcycles

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