Posted on May 19th, 2017

Staying Focused on Motorcycle Safety

As the weather warms up, motorcycle enthusiasts can taste the freedom of the open road.

Some prefer the high octane thrill of a sports bike while others prefer to see the countryside on a full-dress cruiser.

In either case, they may catch the unwary driver by surprise. Not all motorcycles are loud and you won’t necessarily hear a roar as they approach. And they can be nestled in your blind spot and then seemingly appear out of nowhere.

It’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Drivers have to be especially aware of their two-wheeled road companions as they are also entitled to the road. Here are some safety features that may help:

The Sideview Camera shows you an expanded view of a lane beside you when you use your turn signal or when you activate the feature manually. This broader view may help you pick up on that rapidly approaching bike.

 What about the Blind Spot Warning? This seems like an obvious selection, but not all of them can detect objects that are moving very fast or pick up smaller vehicles such as motorcycles.

The Lane Departure warning can keep you, as well as drivers in the adjoining lane, safe. This feature will alert you with sounds or vibrations if you start to veer out of your lane. This feature is most effective on highways where the lines are clear and bright on either side of the lane.

Because of the relatively small size and high speed of most motorcycles, they aren’t reliably detected by some of the older and current collision avoidance technologies —which vary widely in their capabilities. It is important to check your owner’s manual to have a clear understanding of what to expect from your vehicle’s safety systems.

Of course, you are your car’s best safety feature. So stay alert and be cautious and don’t forget you have to share the road with motorcyclists.