Governor Hogan proclaims May to be Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month; Maryland State Police announce free motorcycle training

GLEN BURNIE, MD—To lift consciousness and encourage all vacationers to share the highway with bike riders, Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed the month of Could as Motorbike Security Consciousness Month in Maryland. In assist of the proclamation and basic motorcyclists’ security, the Maryland Division of Transportation Motor Car Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Freeway Security Workplace and Maryland State Police have introduced the launch of the brand new Maryland MOTORS (Motor Officers Instructing Different Riders Security) bike coaching program.

In 2021, there have been 74 motorcycle-involved fatalities in Maryland, a rise from 2020 when 68 fatalities occurred within the state. Extra could be executed to advertise security on Maryland roadways.

“Motorcyclists are among the many most weak roadway customers, and it’s as much as every Marylander to take a second search for motorcyclists whereas touring,” stated Chrissy Nizer, MDOT MVA Administrator and Governor Larry Hogan’s Freeway Security Consultant. “Motorbike Security Consciousness Month is a crucial time to remind drivers and bike riders to look out for one another, keep away from distractions and drive responsibly.”

In line with the outcomes of a current Street Security Behaviors and Attitudes research performed on behalf of MDOT MVA’s Freeway Security Workplace, motorcyclists have excessive curiosity in extra or superior coaching. Total, 40% of motorbike drivers surveyed stated they’ve already participated in a sophisticated rider coaching course, whereas 22% have solely taken a newbie course and 5% stated they acquired no coaching by any means. Thirty % of respondents reported that they had been educated by one other driver/operator.

Greater than 90% of motorcyclists surveyed “strongly” or “considerably agree” with the premise that supplemental coaching in bike operation/driving has advantages, and 80% can be desirous about taking a free bike coaching course taught by regulation enforcement businesses.

In partnership between the MDOT MVA’s Freeway Security Workplace and Maryland State Police, the brand new Maryland MOTORS class will launch June 1, 2022. It’s a bike security class for civilian riders taught by cops. The free courses are open to all motorcyclists with a sound bike license and insurance coverage. The 2-part coaching consists of a classroom portion and a highway portion the place the civilian riders are accompanied by the bike officers on an precise journey. Throughout and after the journey, officers talk with the civilian riders about methods to remain protected, together with evaluations of using methods supposed to extend the security of the civilians.

Maryland MOTORS courses are open for registration on a first-come, first-served foundation. Civilians desirous about taking a category can enroll right here. A further checklist of coaching facilities the place riders can guarantee they’ve the abilities and psychological methods for accountable bike operation could be discovered on ZeroDeathsMD.gov/Street-Security/Motorbike-Security.

“Maryland is working exhausting to create and preserve a transportation community that’s protected and accessible for all customers – and that features motorcyclists,” stated MDOT Secretary James F. Ports Jr. “Looking for each other on our roadways means training protected driving behaviors and at all times being conscious of our environment and the man vacationers who’re sharing the highway.”

As a part of Motorbike Security Month, MDOT MVA is encouraging drivers and riders to share the highway and assist defend each other through the use of the next ideas:

For Drivers:

• Share the highway with motorcyclists. Motorcyclists can use the complete journey lane, so give them house and don’t reduce them off.
• Look twice for bikes. When there’s a crash involving a automobile and a bike, the automobile driver is at fault greater than half of the time. Sign your intentions and at all times examine two or extra instances earlier than making left turns, merging, altering lanes or pulling into site visitors.
• Do not forget that motorcyclists are smaller than vehicles. Drivers are likely to search for different vehicles and vans, not for motorcyclists. And, as a result of a rider and their bike are smaller than a automobile, they’re typically tough to see.
• Decrease and examine your blind spots. Bikes are simply hidden by a driver’s blind spot. Test your mirrors commonly when driving and alter them to indicate extra of the highway and fewer of your automobile.

For Motorbike Riders:

• Be courteous, non-aggressive and respectful of different highway customers when using.
• Make your self seen always. Select using gear that will increase your visibility in site visitors, along with offering safety within the occasion of a crash. Use vibrant colours and retro-reflective strips or decals, particularly at evening.
• Journey so you’re seen. There is no such thing as a one “most secure” place to journey by way of visibility. Use lane positioning to be seen by drivers. Journey together with your headlight on and think about using a modulating headlight.
• Give your self house and time to react. Enable house for braking or for avoiding a crash.
• Sign your intentions. Sign earlier than altering lanes. Keep away from weaving between lanes. Flash your brake mild if you find yourself slowing down and earlier than stopping. Make your lane modifications steadily.
• Be taught early, be taught typically. Motorbike security coaching programs have a lot to supply new, skilled and returning riders. Hold your expertise sharp by commonly collaborating in bike expertise coaching programs.

Motorbike crashes are preventable. The MDOT MVA Freeway Security Workplace’s Be the Driver security consciousness marketing campaign reminds each drivers and riders to drive sober, put the cellphone down, decelerate and buckle up when in a automobile. The message to “Be the LOOK TWICE Driver” will probably be shared all through Could, depicting how a driver can simply see a motorcyclists one second, and the way fast that bike can disappear in a blind spot. Public service commercials will run on Fb, WBAL Radio, 98 Rock and choose billboards throughout the state.

Further info and security ideas can be found at https://zerodeathsmd.gov/road-safety/motorcycle-safety.

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