Be an active rider. Be visible, easy to notice and obvious.
Facts
- The average age of a motorcycle owner is 46. Motorcycle fatalities are highest for individuals ages 21 to 25.
- More than 4,300 motorcyclists died in crashes in the United States in 2013.
- In 2013, Missouri recorded 98 fatal motorcycle crashes, 2,065 personal injury crashes, 104 deaths and 2,404 individuals were injured as a result of motorcycle accidents.
- When it comes to motorcycle-related deaths, 91 percent of motorcyclist deaths are male while 61 percentage of motorcycle passenger deaths are female.
- Motorcycle fatalities are highest between May and September and during weekends after 6 p.m.
- The blood alcohol consumption level was at or above 0.08 for 28 percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers.
- Wearing a helmet decreases the chance of dying in a crash by 37 percent. Riders without helmets are three times more likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury in a crash.
- Missouri has a universal helmet law that requires all motorcycle riders, including the passenger, to wear a helmet.
Safety Tips
- Be licensed and informed.
- S.E.E. when on the road: Search, Evaluate and Execute.
- Have a safe attitude and mindset before starting the motorcycle.
- Ensure working lights on all areas of the motorcycle.
- Use reflective equipment.
- Buy a bike with an anti-lock brake system (ABS).
- Avoid riding in wet, rainy, slippery, icy, snowy, foggy and windy conditions.
- Avoid riding when the temperature is less than 40F.
- Dress appropriately. Wear a helmet with a face shield, gloves, jacket, pants and boots.
Road Rules
- Ride sober.
- Make yourself visible to all drivers on the road at all times.
- Wear your helmet at all times.
- Look forward, left, right, and backward using the mirrors.
- Share the road.
- Be aware of surroundings.
- Use your signals before making lane changes.
- Check all directions before changing lanes.
- Consider the differences between the safety features on a car or truck and the safety features on a motorcycle. Most of what comes standard on best-selling vehicles is missing on motorcycles, such as: airbags, seat belt locking mechanism, back-up camera, extended bumper, doors, crumple zone and a roof.
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