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Motorcycle safety all about awareness
Published April 25, 2009
Frank Dietz has loved riding motorcycles since he was 14 years old and would sneak out of his house at night to ride.
Now, more than 30 years later, Dietz still loves the freedom and camaraderie he feels when riding, but he makes sure to always drive safely, he said.
“Riders need to know how dangerous it is out there,” Dietz said.
To help promote motorcycle safety, Dietz and a group of motorcyclists have been asking area cities for proclamations naming May as Motorcycle Safety Month.
Because motorcyclists are not protected by the metal framing around people who drive cars, their injuries in a wreck can be much worse, Sgt. Mike Newton of the Freeport Police Department said.
When a call for a motorcycle accident comes through the scanner, officers know there probably has been an injury, said Officer Bryan Sidebottom, a motorcycle officer with the Lake Jackson Police Department.
“A car is a lot bigger than a motorcycle and can’t put up competition,” said Clarence “Tug” Grumbles, owner of Tugs Cycles in Brazoria.
There are many ways motorcycle and other vehicle drivers can make sure devastating motorcycle accidents don’t happen.
BE AWARE
“Always look for a way out,” Dietz said.
As motorcyclists drive down the road, they should be thinking about ways to get out of different situations that might present themselves, he said.
Another way to be safe is to drive as if the motorcycle is invisible, he said — think about what would happen if no one could see you.
Cyclists always should beware of left-hand turns, Dietz said. Slow down and look twice before making the turn, he said.
Many accidents happen as motorcycles try to take left turns because drivers don’t see them, Grumbles said. These drivers are called “left-turn artists,” he said.
“You just can’t rely on other people to be doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said.
To protect themselves, motorcyclists should keep a good distance from other vehicles, Newton said.
TRAINING
People never should drive a motorcycle without training, Dietz said. Motorcyclists need to know what to do in every situation so they can react quickly, he said.
Driver safety courses are offered at many area dealerships, at some colleges and through the state, Sidebottom said.
The local Blue Knights Chapter 6 offers motorcycle safety courses, said Mike Gingrich, a deputy with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office and president of the Blue Knights.
GEAR AND MAINTENANCE
Maintenance of motorcycles is very important, Newton said. Make sure safety blinkers, headlights and brake lights are working properly, he said.
“It’s a good idea to always run with headlights,” Grumbles said, and tire pressure should be checked once a week.
“If tires get low, the bike becomes hard to control,” he said. It begins to wobble and feel sluggish.
Loud mufflers also can help motorcyclists avoid a wreck because the drivers around them can hear them coming, he said.
If motorcyclists get in a wreck, wearing the proper clothing can save their lives.
Motorcyclists should wear a helmet, Newton said. They also should wear long sleeves, gloves, boots and protective eyewear, Gingrich said.
Unless motorcyclists have the proper insurance, have taken a safety course and received a decal to put on their license plate, they are required by law to wear a helmet, Sidebottom said.
DRIVERS
Just this past week, Dietz was run off the road by the driver of an 18-wheeler who wasn’t paying attention, he said.
“Vehicles need to know that motorcycles are out there and hard to see,” Dietz said.
To avoid being the cause of a motorcycle accident, drivers should use their mirrors and remember motorcycles could be in their blind spot, Newton said.
Though the drive might be dangerous, avid motorcyclists say it is well worth the risk.
“It’s a joy, a relaxing ride,” Newton said.
When Grumbles rides his motorcycle, he enjoys taking in the sights and smelling nature all around him, he said.
“There’s something exhilarating about it to me,” he said.
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