ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (April 19, 2019) — For 32 years, May has been proclaimed Motorcycle Awareness Month in the state of Illinois. ABATE of Illinois Inc (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education) is once again striving to provide a safe, unrestricted motorcycling-environment in the State of Illinois, community by community. May is designated as Motorcycle Awareness Month through proclamations issued by many local and county governments.
Blackhawk Chapter of ABATE of Illinois would like to remind everyone that motorcycles will be out on the roads in numbers again. During the winter, there are a lot more cars and trucks out on the road than motorcycles. Motorists are used to looking for cars and trucks, and may not expect to see or may not “recognize” a motorcycle.
ABATE of Illinois also urges all motorcyclists to ride responsibly, be aware of their surroundings, and ensure their motorcycles are functioning properly. Motorcyclists are encouraged to take the IDOT Cycle Rider Training Program, either as a new rider, or as a refresher-course for more-experienced riders. ABATE of Illinois discourages the use of alcohol or drugs while operating or riding on a motorcycle.
ABATE of Illinois believes that education is the key to, and most effective in, reducing accidents.
In the majority of motorcycle accidents, the driver of the vehicle states he/she did not see the motorcycle. We all know that is not intentional. But, with education, vehicle-drivers will have the tools necessary to watch for and interact with motorcycles. Here is some information regarding our motorcycle safety and education programs and some tips about watching for and interacting with motorcycles.
Some Things Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles:
- Motorcycles are smaller than cars, and because of this some factors come in to play.
- Size does not equal distance. Because of its small size, a motorcycle may appear further away than it really is. Always predict the motorcycle is closer than it looks.
- Because of its small size, a motorcycle may appear to be going faster than it really is.
- Because of its small size, a motorcycle can easily be hidden in blind-spots, or by objects inside or outside of a car. Please thoroughly check traffic and look twice when changing lanes or at intersections.
- Lane positions: Motorcyclists will mainly ride down the left-side of the lane. This is for visibility, as the outer-side of the lane is cleaner pavement. Motorcyclists will change lane-positions in order to be seen by other drivers, to get a better view of oncoming traffic, or to avoid obstacles in the road. The majority of motorcyclists are not showing off when changing lane positions.
- The safest way to pass a motorcycle is to pass it as if it were a car. Give the motorcycle the same amount of room as you would a car when passing. When being passed by a motorcycle, maintain speed and lane-position until the motorcycle has passed.
- Motorcycles have 2 braking systems, and stopping distance is about the same as cars in ideal road-conditions. But slick road-conditions can make quick-stopping more difficult, so please allow motorcyclists more following distance. Leave at least 2 seconds between you and a motorcycle.
- Before proceeding through an intersection, please look at least 3 times for a motorcycle — left, right, then left again: Left because that will be the first point of impact, then right, then left again just before proceeding.
It is also important to realize that most motorcyclists do ride responsibly. Motorcyclists are not all speed-demons. A motorcyclist could be your neighbor, doctor, teacher, grandparent, aunt, uncle. Motorcyclists come from all walks of life. When a motorcycle is in motion, think of it as a person, not a machine. We all have to share the road, and at the end of the day, we all want the same thing — to get home safe. So, we all need to watch out for each other, and pay attention while on the roadways. And please, don’t operate any vehicle (4-wheels, 3-wheels, 2-wheels) while distracted. That text, that phone-call, that snapchat — it can wait until parked. Let’s all make it home safe.
Look Twice, Save a Life. Start Seeing Motorcycles.
Blackhawk Chapter is the Illinois Quad Cities Chapter of ABATE of Illinois. ABATE of Illinois is a not-for-profit Motorcyclist Rights Organization. The mission of ABATE of Illinois is to preserve the universal right to a safe, unrestricted motorcycling environment.
ABATE of Illinois urges all motorcyclists to ride responsibly.
https://docjenkins.wixsite.com/blackhawk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/194378826556/
ABATE Of Illinois and Education Programs:
ABATE of Illinois presents motorcycle awareness programs for new and inexperienced drivers, which teaches them how to watch for and interact with motorcyclists. Blackhawk Chapter visits area high school drivers education classes with this program. It consists of a video, handouts, safety tips, a question-and-answer session, as well as information on rider education classes. It is a fast paced, very informative class. If interested in this program, please visit https://docjenkins.wixsite.com/blackhawk to find contact information for our safety and education coordinator.
