After reading the article by A.Jones on motorcyclists and safety, i found it important for everybody to consider safety since we've lost lives on accidents involving motorcycles. As the number of motorcyclists on the road increases, the number of cyclists killed in the state is also likely to double in the next four years. This is scary news for Texan bikers, especially because the number of fatal motorcycle accidents each year is already alarmingly high. TxDOT has a list of four tips for motorists that it plans to pass along through TV and radio advertisements. Doing the following four tips while driving, TxDOT says, can save lives.
1. Do a double take. TxDOT says to look not once but twice for motorcyclists at intersections, where they could be taking a left turn. While on the highway, be alert for motorcyclists, as they may be changing lanes. Also, use your signals to alert motorcyclists where you plan to go.
2. Show respect. TxDOT wants to remind motorists that motorcycles have just as many rights on the roads as cars do, so even though they take up less space, they deserve the same amount of respect as cars.
3. Give plenty of space. TxDOT says that it is not wise to follow motorcycles too closely because their driving patterns are different from those of a car on certain roads and in certain road conditions. Always give a full lane of travel space between your vehicle and a motorcycle, the DOT suggests.
4. Anticipate possible hazards. TxDOT notes that obstacles that you many not notice could prove deadly for a motorcyclist, so be on the lookout and make sure to give them plenty of room to react in different situations.
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