Motorcycle Safety Awareness

Motorcycle Safety Awareness is a dedicated public education campaign—observed nationally every May—designed to reduce motorcycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities by promoting mutual respect, visibility, and defensive driving across all road users.

Origin & History

• 1980s Push: Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month was officially established in the early 1980s by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in partnership with state safety offices and national rider organizations like the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF).

  
  

• Spring Spike: May was selected because spring weather triggers a massive return of riders to the roads after winter, creating an urgent seasonal need to re-accustom motorists to checking blind spots and sharing lanes safely.

Whose Responsibility Is It?

Safety on the road is a shared, equal responsibility among all highway users:

• Motorists: Must proactively check mirrors and blind spots, allow a 3-to-4-second following distance, signal intentions early, and yield the right-of-way—especially at intersections where over 40% of car-motorcycle crashes occur.

  
  

• Motorcyclists: Must command visibility, ride sober, continuously upgrade defensive riding skills, and maintain complete control of their machines.

  
  

• Public & Transportation Agencies: Responsible for road infrastructure maintenance (fixing potholes, clearing gravel) and public messaging campaigns like "Get Ready to See Motorcycles" and "Look Twice, Save a Life."

What We Can Do as Riders to Support It

1. Gear Up for High Visibility

• Wear DOT/ECE-certified helmets, abrasion-resistant jacket/pants, and impact armor.

• Choose bright colors, high-viz neon accents, or reflective retro-strips on gear and luggage to stand out in low light.

  
  

2. Practice Active Defense & Lane Positioning

• Position yourself in the lane where you are most visible to drivers (dominant lane position) and avoid riding in blind spots.

• Use turn signals well in advance and tap brake lights when slowing down to alert following traffic.

  
  

3. Champion Continuous Education

• Take an Advanced RiderCourse (ARC) or track-based skills refresher every spring to sharpen emergency braking, cornering, and swerving capabilities.

• Never ride impaired by alcohol, drugs, or extreme fatigue.

  
  

4. Educate the Non-Riding Public

• Use club networks, social channels, and community events to share "Share the Road" awareness literature.

• Host local pre-season safety checks (T-CLOCS inspections) and lead by example during group rides.