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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month so we’ll be highlighting some articles this month to help you, and other drivers, stay safe when you hit the open road.

Motorcycle riders are quick to share the appeal of the ride. From feeling the air against one’s body to spending less time looking for parking spots, there are myriad reasons bikers become just that. One incentive that cannot be denied? The “cool” factor that comes with being able to offer a ride to a passenger.

To those hesitant to hop on, motorcyclists are quick to point out that they are, in many measurable ways, safer drivers than car drivers. Indeed they enjoy a better field of vision, more maneuverability and a lower rate of distracted driving. Even more encouraging? A 2003 National Highway Safety Administration study showed that in 80% of accidents between motorcycles and cars, motorcycles either were not at fault or shared less fault than the involved car. Unfortunately drivers of motorcycles suffer a disproportionately high rate of injury and death when involved in an accident than drivers of other vehicles, especially when taking in to account the fact that they are safer drivers overall. In fact, in 2013 “motorcyclists were five times more likely to be injured and 26 times more likely to be killed in a wreck than car-drivers.” In light of these statistics would-be passengers may be justified in being wary of coming along for a ride. Likewise, motorcycle drivers themselves are wise to exercise caution when taking on a passenger, which puts a driver in a position of potential liability in the event of a collision. So when should you allow a passenger on your motorcycle? Here are five requirements to meet before turning the key to increase the odds that everyone will arrive at the destination safe and sound.

1. Gain Experience As A Driver

Carrying a passenger on the back of a motorcycle changes multiple aspects of the way the vehicle operates. It can not simply be equated with operating the bike while carrying a suitcase or other heavy cargo. For this reason, wait until you have gained experience as a driver in order to better be able to handle the new way your motorcycle will feel with the new addition of a passenger.

2. Take A Safety Course

Before making the decision to carry a passenger on your bike, complete a motorcycle safety course. After successfully taking such a course, ease in to the new experience by first carrying passengers only in low-traffic areas before riding on a busy street with the precious new cargo.

3. Check State Licensing Requirements

A motorcycle instruction permit typically does not permit its carrier to have passengers. While most states do allow a person with a full motorcycle license to carry passengers do check the DMV regulations for your state to be sure that you will be in compliance prior to carrying a passenger. These regulations are available in the motorcycle operator manual or by contacting the nearest DMV office.

4. Have The Right Equipment

No matter how experienced the driver, some motorcycles are simply not equipped to carry any passengers. Before offering anyone a ride, check to be sure that your seat is big enough to carry two as well as that your bike has the extra foot pegs a passenger will need. Just as important? Have an extra helmet available for your passenger, one that properly fits him or her. The owner’s manual for any motorcycle should provide information about the bike’s weight limits as well as whether there are any suspension and/or tire pressure adjustments that you should make to the vehicle before inviting an additional person on board. In some cases your state may have additional requirements that a motorcycle must meet in order to legally carry passengers. These may include requirements for passenger footrests and/or separate passenger seating. Check to be sure that your bike meets these requirements before accepting a passenger.

5. Brief Your Passenger

While most of the information that will help keep you and your passenger safe is largely relative to the bike’s operator, there are safety rules any passenger should also be briefed on prior to hopping on board. Even if your passenger claims to be an experienced rider, always take the time to be sure that he or she:

• Understands that feet must be kept on the footrests at all times
• Knows to keep legs away from the mufflers, which get very hot
• Is wearing a helmet and any other required protective gear and understands that all must be kept on for the duration of the ride
• Knows not to turn or make any other sudden moves, as unexpected movement can hamper your ability to control the motorcycle safely
• Understands the importance of holding on to your waist or the motorcycle’s passenger handholds
• Knows to brace with his or her hands against the tank when braking to keep from pushing you over the bars if he or she is heavy

Carrying a passenger on your motorcycle can be a fun rewarding experience if you take the time to do all that you can to keep both of you safe. In addition to the above tips, be sure to heed any recommendations made by a traffic school or defensive driving teacher as well as by your state’s DMV.

 

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Ah, the lure of the motorcycle. It’s tremendously fun to think of taking either a short or long trip on one. Say your best friend lives 400 miles away. In a car, that’s roughly 8 hours. A stretch, but you could make it in one sitting. Could you make it on your motorcycle? How long can you safely ride a motorcycle in one day? Here are some answers and considerations to think about.

1. Do a practice run

Riders vary in how many miles they can ride and feel comfortable—both when they dismount from the bike and the next day. Remember, you are sitting for a long time in one position. That can cause muscle cramps or soreness. Say you have planned a 400-mile trip. The last thing you want is to be stiff and sore after stopping for lunch, or when you wake up the next day.

So, be practical. Don’t just start out on a long trip without riding practice runs first. Start with a conservative number of miles before setting out on a lengthy trip.

See if you can do 50 miles comfortably on a weekend day. Are you comfortable on the day of the ride? Are you comfortable the day after? If you are, lengthen by 10 miles per weekend until you find your max. (And if you’re already riding longer than this, use the same principle. Extend it until you find your maximum comfort level.)

If you’re sore, realize the amount of miles you can drive per day is going to be less than the mileage that made you sore. If you’re sore after a 100-mile ride, say, decrease by 10 miles until you find your comfort level.

2. Have the right bike for a long haul

Heavier motorcycles, such as Harley-Davidsons, are better for long cruises. Make sure your bike can take the wear and tear of a long trip—and that you can take the wear and tear on it. Do trial runs, as above: determine how long you can comfortably ride.

Also, remember that on a long trip, you will be hearing the noise of your bike much more than you hear the noise of a car on a long trip. Will that bother you? Will the vibration from the motorcycle? Again, test runs (start with 50 miles and work up) are key here. Use earplugs for the noise factor.

As the experienced cyclist here notes, the ideal motorcycle seat is hard (not soft), long, and relatively flat. Why is this the ideal shape? Simple. It allows you to move your body around to various postures rather than essentially making you sit in one place, as an indented seat does. Being stuck in one posture can become agony in anything you do. You need options, always.

3. Check the weather, traffic, and other safety factors

So we have checked the ability of you, your motorcycle, and your motorcycle seat to be long-distance-worthy. But no amount of distance is safe unless there are favorable safety conditions. Yes, we are talking about weather, traffic, and road conditions.

If heavy rain is forecast, you are going to have to slow way down, and it might even be prudent to get off the road. Ditto tornadoes, thunderstorms, snow…and a whole host of inclemencies.

If traffic is snarled, whether due to an accident or construction, simply incorporate it into your plan and realize you will not make your goal miles. Do not sweat it or become impatient. Trying to beat the traffic or swerve around traffic is not safe.

If there is construction, or the road is bad for some reason (rocks, sand, other impediments), again, do NOT make your commitment to mileage or making it to a certain place cause you to drive unsafely. Nearly half of all motorcycle fatalities are caused by speeding, according to Consumer Reports.

Don’t try to go faster than road conditions allow, for any of the reasons above.

So there you have it. How long you can safely ride a motorcycle depends on your mileage tolerance, your bike, and weather, roads, and traffic. Ride on!

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is almost over, but it’s only the beginning of motorcycle riding season! Motorcycle safety is especially important this year, as overall traffic fatalities actually increased by 5.3% in 2012 after six years of steady declines (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Motorcyclist deaths have been highlighted as a major factor in this spike, with a 9% increase in motorcyclist fatalities predicted (Governor’s Highway Safety Association).

But this is not a new issue – motorcycle fatalities have been increasing for years. Even while advances in highway safety have brought overall traffic fatalities down by 23% from 1997 to 2011, motorcyclist deaths have more than doubled, with increases reported in 14 of the past 15 years (GHSA). Per miles traveled in 2010, the number of deaths on motorcycles was 30 times the number in cars (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

Here are the three most important ways to combat these high fatality rates, so that you can stay safe on the road this year!

1. Wear Helmets

Helmets are Effective

• Helmets reduce the risk of motorcyclist fatalities by 37%, and reduce the risk of brain injuries by 67% (IIHS)
• Riders without helmets are 40% more likely to die from a head injury than riders wearing helmets (CDC)
• Studies have shown that helmets which meet the standards set by the US Department of Transportation do not restrict your vision or interfere with your hearing (CDC)(IIHS)

Universal Helmet Laws Prevent Motorcycle Deaths

• Universal motorcycle helmet laws, which apply to all riders, result in are the only safety measure that has been proven to reduce motorcycle deaths. Universal helmet laws result in increased helmet usage rates, and decreased fatalities. (CDC)
• Only 19 states currently have universal helmet laws, down from 1997, when 26 states had universal helmet laws in place. (NBC News)
• 28 states have partial helmet laws, which only apply to young riders. These are NOT effective in motivating riders to wear helmets! States with partial laws experience about the same helmet use rates as states with no helmet laws at all (CDC)
• Three states – Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire – have no helmet requirements. (IIHS)

Keep Universal Helmet Laws on the Books!

• Universal helmet laws result in significant increases in helmet usage rates, but when laws are repealed or weakened, helmet usage decreases again, and deaths and injuries increase (CDC)
• What kind of helmet law does your state have? Check out Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s map of helmet laws to find out!

2. Never Drink and Ride

• Alcohol is a factor in many motorcycle deaths. In 2011…
  • 30% of all fatally injured riders…
  • 42% of riders fatally injured in single vehicle crashes, meaning crashes where the motorcycle was the only vehicle involved…
  • 57% of riders killed at night, and…
  • 67% of riders killed in single vehicle crashes on weekend nights…

  … had a BAC at or above the legal limit of .08% (IIHS)

• Of riders killed in traffic collisions with BAC levels of .08% or higher, only 44% were wearing helmets, compared to 67% for riders with no alcohol (NHTSA).
• Motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes are 2.5 times more likely to have consumed alcohol than drivers of passenger vehicles (Motorcycle.com).

3. Slow Down

• In 2011, 35% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to only 22% for passenger car drivers (NHTSA).
• Road conditions like potholes, gravel, or wet surfaces can be extremely dangerous for riders, and can easily contribute to crashes, especially at high speeds.
• In 2011, 48% of riders killed in single-vehicle motorcycle crashes were speeding (IIHS)

Looking for More Information?

• Check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s list of recommendations for motorcyclists and drivers to share the road safely!
• Motorcycles are smaller and harder to see than cars. Drivers, keep a sharp eye out and check your blind spots. Motorcyclists, wear bright colors and reflective tape, and use turn signals and hand signals to stay visible!
• Make sure you know the laws for the state you’re riding in! Some states allow motorcycles to “split lanes,” or travel in the unused space between two lines of moving or stationary vehicles, but other states have laws against it. Check out the American Motorcyclist Association’s state-by-state list, or with your state DMV.