ROYALSTON – May is National Motorcycle Safety Month, and this year’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s theme is “Share the Road.”
The focus is that motorcyclists and drivers of four-wheeled vehicles play important roles in the safety of motorcyclists.
Statistically speaking, according to the administration, it’s highly likely a serious crash involving a motorcyclist from this area will occur this summer. There were 88,000 non-fatal injuries and 4,976 fatalities in the United States in 2015.
About 80 percent of victims in reported motorcycle crashes are injured or killed, according to those statistics. About 45 to 50 Massachusetts motorcyclists will die in a crash this year.
Because motorcycles are so much smaller than other vehicles on the road, visual cues for timing are not always accurate, and drivers of four-wheeled vehicles often cut out in front of them or cut them off during turns across a roadway.
Motorcyclists who aren’t acutely aware of what’s going on around them can end up boxed in by four-wheeled vehicles and immovable objects, including guardrails, and have no place to go in an emergency. And, if motocycles are not properly outfitted, collisions can be catastrophic.
There is little room for error when riding on two wheels, according to experts, with no external protection, other than clothing. Safety officials don’t know how many relatively minor injuries could have been avoided by wearing full-coverage outer clothing.
Proper protective clothing and gear plays a major role in safety, according to motorcycle safety organizations. Of the nearly 5,000 deaths in 2015, it is believed 740 of those crashes would not have been fatal had the rider been wearing an appropriate helmet, which is mandated equipment for motorcyclists operating in Massachusetts.
Full-coverage helmets provide the best protection, but regardless of style, helmets should always be purchased brand-new, and have a sticker indicating it meets Massachusetts Department of Transportation or Snell Memorial Foundation standards. A motorcycle helmet that’s been in a crash is trash, according to the administration.
Jackets and chaps/pants made for motorcycling are durable, abrasion-resistant, and often have “hard shell” inserts to cushion against impact. Boots with ankle protection and full-fingered gloves are also highly recommended. There is special rain- and cold-weather gear available, specifically for motorcyclists.
Skill decay is also an issue for motorcyclists, according to safety experts, especially for people 50 and older, many of whom are “re-entry riders” who rode in their teens and 20s, then took up the hobby again in their 50s and 60s, after an extended period of not riding. The highest fatalities are seen in this demographic, according to statistics.
While skills may not be completely gone after 20 or 30 years of not riding, they are definitely in need of practice. The same can be said for those who do not ride during the winter. Even lifelong riders should find a quiet place to reacquaint themselves with their motorcycle before hitting the road. They should also practice skills, like safe starts, avoiding objects in the travel lane, tight turns and quick stops.
Area motorcycling firefighters can check with the local Red Knights International Firefighter Motorcycle Club, which plans to hold its annual Spring Skills Day in Orange on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Call President Kevin Martin at 978-877-6179 or visit www.rk-mass2.org.
If you’re a new or experienced rider, call Central Massachusetts Safety Council Inc. at 508-835-2333 or visit www.centralmasafety.org. Its Basic Rider and Experience Rider motorcycle courses are listed. In addition to the skills you gain, you’ll earn a 10 percent discount on motorcycle insurance.
For the more experienced rider, Ken Condon of Ashfield, a self-proclaimed “motorcycling junkie” and owner of Riding in the Zone, offers personal, on-street motorcycle rider training. His offerings can be found at www.ridinginthezone.com.
Motorcycle clubs or groups of individual motorcyclists can take classes all summer long
on closed tracks in either Thompson, Conn., or Palmer. Tony Iannarelli of Longmeadow can be contacted at: www.tonystrackdays.com or 413-783- 8763.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation at www.msf-usa.org has a number of resources on its website, including quick tips and reference sheets, as well as a timed Rider Perception Challenge and a 48-question basic rider quiz.
The National Safety Council at www.nsc.org also has a number of suggestions to help motorcyclists stay safe.
Regardless of the vehicle you drive, you’ll meet cars, trucks and motorcycles, as well as bicyclists, pedestrians and the occasional deer, moose or bear during travels this summer. The best advice experts say they have is to always be alert when operating any motor vehicle — aware of what’s going on all around you and, of course, be prepared to share the road.