Bike Week, a long-standing tradition in Daytona with riders from across the country kicks off today. Experts are warning that with more than 500,000 people expected to attend the 10-day Bike Week in Daytona this year, safety for all riders and motorists should be a top priority.
According to statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 350 motorcyclists and 33 passengers were killed in traffic crashes in 2010 and 6,686 motorcyclists and 725 passengers were injured in traffic crashes that same year.
Bikers who will be attending Bike Week this year are being reminded by AAA, to “Wear a Helmet, Be Seen and Ride Sober.”
AAA and the Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition have also put out motorcycle awareness tips for motorists:
- Respect motorcycle riders. Motorcycles are vehicles too and have the same privileges as an automobile, so be sure to give them ample room.
- Even if a motorcycle is loud, don’t expect to hear it. Actively look for motorcycles in traffic.
- Do not drive with headphones on or music so loud you are unable to pay attention to traffic around you.
- Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the motorcyclists. Uneven terrain, wet roads, and heavy traffic often require a motorcycle rider to react and maneuver differently than automobiles.
- Take extra caution when making a left-hand turn, since most automobile versus motorcycle crashes occur during left-hand turns.
- Don’t drive distracted. A driver who takes their eyes off the road for two seconds doubles their risk of getting into a crash.
For more information on the Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition and to view a peer-to-peer video highlighting three key things every motorcyclist in Florida needs to know in order to ride smart, stay safe, and enjoy the open road, visit www.ridsmartflorida.com.
