1. GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION Motorist Awareness Division
Share the Road –
Think Motorcycles
Seminar
Slide 1
Introduce yourself – motorcyclist, concerned about reducing motorcycle accidents, injuries and deaths. Use the 5 W’s:
Who you are
Where you are from
What you ride
When did you start riding?
Why you are here
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!
Modified: ChavezD, Region I, RMAC 2012

2. Overview
The purpose of this seminar is to share with you some of the hazards motorists present to motorcyclists and how you can be part of the solution. We will discuss:
The Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)
What Familiarity is and Why it Helps
Motorcycle Characteristics & Who Rides Them
Hazardous Road & Driving Scenarios
Why Motorists Collide with Motorcycles
Blind Spots  Driver Distractions
How You Can Help  Harder to identify in Traffic
Why Motorist Awareness & What is “Share the Road”?
Slide 2
Overview of the seminar:
GWRRA – what the organization and the people are about
Describe some of the characteristics of a motorcycle from the eyes of a driver. The purpose is to help them understand the problem of being seen by motorists.
Present different typical situations found on the road daily. These situations increase the risk of driving a motorcycle due to motorists actions, which are often a result of being unaware of what to look for or inattentiveness
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

3. Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)
What is GWRRA?
Established in 1977, GWRRA is the largest single marquee motorcycle organization in the world.
Based on the Honda Gold Wing touring motorcycle.
 Over 80,000 members
 Chapters in all 50 states – over 800 chapters
 International - Chapters in at least 52 countries, including USA & Canada
Organized with local Chapters, in-state Districts, multi-state Regions, under a National/International umbrella.
Slide 3
GWRRA stands for Gold Wing Road Riders Association. Our members form an association of people who like to ride Honda Gold Wing motorcycles and also like to have fun.
Our association has over 80,000 members worldwide.
Chapters are found in each of the 50 United States, in Canada and 52 other countries around the world.
GWRRA is organized in local Chapters, state Districts, Regions are groups of several states, with an International Headquarters in Phoenix AZ, where it was founded.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

4. Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)
What Are We About?
Motto: Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge
Emphasis on educating our members
Rider Education Program training includes:
 Both Riders and Co-Riders (passengers)
 Seminars, videos, newsletters, magazine
 Rider Courses to improve motorcycle riding skills
 CPR, First Aid, AED training
Slide 4
GWRRA Motto - focused on training our members and always having fun
Training for motorcyclists to improve their riding skills, as well as the passenger – co-rider. Increasing awareness of ways to manage the risk of motorcycling
We continually train our members in various forms including:
Seminars (like this one) presented in person using slides or PowerPoint presentations;
Recorded videos;
Monthly newsletters at the chapter, state and national level;
A monthly magazine
First Aid, CPR and Artificial External Defibrillator training is also made available to our members because motorcyclists are often on the scene of another motorcycle accident.
Every chapter in GWRRA has a Chapter Educator position
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

5. Familiarity What is Familiarity & Why is it Important?
“Research shows drivers who also ride motorcycles and those with family members or close friends who ride are more likely to observe motorcyclists and less likely to collide with them.” (Brooks & Guppy, 1990)
Becoming familiar with motorcycles reduces the odds that one day you will have a collision with one.
,000 motorcycles registered in U.S./ 2006 – 6,634,506 registered.
Today estimates of motorcycles registered in the U.S. alone exceed 10 million.
Slide 5
What exactly is Familiarity & what does it mean?
A study conducted in 1990 by Brooks & Guppy found that “making motorists aware of motorcycles reduces the odds that they will have a collision with one!”
 The Brooks study focused on earlier studies conducted by Hurt and others examining individual experience and familiarity as important variables in motorcycle accident causation. This concept posits that those who have had meaningful exposure or experience with motorcycles and have thus established familiarity as to the operation and characteristics of the machine/operator, are more inclined to notice other motorcycles on the road and less inclined to be involved in motorist-motorcycle accidents.
What these researchers found was that the single most significant variable for predicting accident involvement with a motorcycle was that of direct motorcycling experience, specifically first hand Technical Awareness. That is, actually having ridden a motorcycle and obtaining the knowledge first hand as to the intricacies of motorcycle operation was found to predict one’s involvement in an accident with a motorcycle (motorist-motorcycle). The authors concluded with an emphasis placed upon education and driver awareness campaigns directed at enhancing the knowledge base of Motorcycle Awareness throughout the population.
To this day, this report is still widely cited as it is one of only a small number of research endeavors that have been dedicated to this topic (Motorcycle Safety Foundation, 2000).
 These statistics basically show a huge increase trend in motorcycle density on the road.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

6. Familiarity
Be aware - most crashes involving motorcyclists are due to the failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic.
Motorcycles are more difficult to detect in traffic & Motorists need to “Think Motorcycles” & train themselves to look for them.
75% of motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle.
66% of motorcycle crashes with other vehicles are caused by the motorist failing to yield the right-of-way.
Over 40% of all motorcycle crashes occur at intersections.
Slide 6
Motorcycles differ from cars, trucks and other traditional vehicles on the road. Their smaller size makes them harder to pick out from background traffic. They can easily blend in with, or be hidden by, other vehicles on the road
Let’s reflect on what these figures mean.
 25% of motorcycles crashes occur as a result of motorcyclists crashing own their own, for whatever reason (Road hazards, too fast in curve, mechanical failure, etc).
 In 9% of motorcycle crashes the motorcyclists could be at fault or partially at fault.
 This means that 66% of the time a motorist is at fault,
Statistics strongly suggest these figures can be reduced through effective awareness education.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

7. Motorcycle Characteristics
Motorcycles differ from cars in several significant ways:
Less stable, narrow 2-wheeled vehicle
Harder to identify in traffic
Difficult to judge distance and speed
Ability to accelerate faster & stop quicker
More nimble than cars, trucks & SUV’s
Slide 7
Motorcycles differ from cars, trucks and other traditional vehicles on the road. Their smaller size makes them harder to pick out from background traffic. They can easily blend in with, or be hidden by, other vehicles on the road
Look for a single headlight that is not paired with another, the way car headlights are paired.
Due to the smaller, narrower profile of the motorcycle, it is difficult to judge its speed – rate of travel – and it is also difficult to judge how far away the motorcycle is.
With their higher horsepower to weight ratio, motorcycles can usually accelerate more quickly than cars. This does not just apply to sport bikes, more commonly called crotch rockets.
Again, due to their low weight, the mass of a motorcycle is easier to bring to a stop with a decent system of disk brakes. Almost all motorcycles on the road today have disk brakes front and back.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

8. More Than Two Wheels Other motorcycle based vehicles include:
 Trikes (classic tricycle design)
 Trikes (new front 2-wheel design)
 Sidecars
 Motorcycles with 2-wheel add-on stability enhancers (like training wheels).
Slide 8
Bikes also come in two-wheel versions such as Gold Wing or HD-based Trikes,
The two wheels make this option much more stable.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

9. Slide 13
They might even be your Dentist.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

10. Who Rides Motorcycles?
The motorcycling community is a diverse cross section of our population, who ride for many different reasons.
 Many people are turning to small
economical motorcycles
for commuting.
Slide 9
Mention the huge diverse varieties of bikes beginning with the simple scooter.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

11. Who Rides Motorcycles?  Numerous people are turning to
V-Twin cruisers for commuting and
local cruising enjoyment. A fun &
economical form of transportation.
 Sport Bike enthusiasts use this type of motorcycle for commuting & sport riding.
Slide 10
Many different approaches are being explored by people trying to beat the high cost of fuel.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

12. Who Rides Motorcycles?
 Those riding a motorcycle like this might be commuting, they might be out for a local cruise or be vacationing on a long distance tour. These motorcycles combine the features of comfort, handling, and great fuel economy.
Slide 11
There is a large segment of the community that travels or commutes by motorcycle using a larger motorcycle like the Gold Wing.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

13. Who Rides Motorcycles?
The motorcycling community is a diverse cross section of our population.
 Anyone might ride a motorcycle! Sometimes even children ride as passengers.
 Riders are real people, just like you, with families that love and depend on them, just like you!
 The motorcyclist next to you in traffic could be your child’s teacher, your friend, neighbor, plumber, doctor, or even one of your family members.
Slide 12
Motorcycle riders are members of the community, just like you. They are fathers and mothers, teachers, students and are in virtually every segment of the community.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

14. Road Hazards Motorcyclists must take evasive action to avoid road
debris. Thrown tire re-treads, boards, live animals or carcasses, rail road tracks or pot-holes can cause a motorcyclist to loose control & result in a crash.
Slide 14
A simple road hazard for a motorist can suddenly become a major obstacle or danger for a motorcyclist.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

15. LOOK TWICE – Save a Life! Slide 38-39 Share the Road.
Keep multi-tasking to a minimum when driving.
Look twice and remember there are motorcycles everywhere.
Have you seen one today?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

16. Hazardous Driving Scenarios
Actions by drivers in everyday traffic that pose the greatest risk to motorcyclists:
Turning across oncoming traffic.
Left or right turn at intersection from a stop.
Blind spots temporarily hiding motorcycles.
Unsafe following distances
Slide 15
Let’s talk about some specific situations where inattentive or inexperienced drivers create problems for motorcyclists. We will point out some of these situations with example diagrams to emphasize these points.
A driver turning left across lanes of oncoming traffic is a common cause for car – motorcycle accidents. Drivers misjudge the speed and distance of the motorcycle, or fail to recognize them in the traffic at all.
Turning across traffic at intersections, focusing on the driver turning into traffic from a side road or driveway, whether it is a left turn or right turn.
Blind spots affect all of us, not just motorcycles. Cars can be hidden behind other objects. The smaller size of motorcycles makes them more easily hidden by other objects. And if you can’t see something coming, you might unknowingly pull out in front of it.
A safe following distance is one that permits the driver to stop without hitting anyone or anything in front of him. Understanding the braking dynamics of motorcycles will help you drive more safely when following a motorcycle, as well as understand why some cyclists get nervous when drivers tailgate.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

17. Left Turn Across Traffic
One of the most common types of car – motorcycle collisions
Driver turns left in front of motorcycle as though it isn’t even there!
Why?
Slide 16
Diagram - Left Turn Across Traffic
This slide shows driver’s intent to turn across the path of the motorcycle when the motorcycle obviously has the right of way.
Click: the travel of the motorcycle & projected movement of the blue car
Forgive the fact that the car is not moving while the motorcycle approaches. The intent is that the driver did not have adequate time to cross the lanes of the oncoming traffic before the motorcycle got there. This scene plays out every day. Most of the time, the motorcyclist anticipates the driver’s action. We teach them to anticipate this kind of scenario in our Rider Course training. But if the rider is looking the other way at the wrong instant and does not have enough time to brake or swerve around the car. There will be a collision Lets note that there are options that are taught to the rider braking and swerving or a combination of the two these things may help in an emergency but what if we can eliminate the need to use them This possibility exists by teaching drivers to take an extra second to judge the speed and distance of approaching motorcycles by taking the time there will be no collision. We don’t believe any driver would do this intentionally. It is usually caused by misjudgment or failure to recognize that a motorcycle was there at all.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

18. Turning Across Traffic
Smaller profile makes motorcycles harder to see
Drivers accustomed to looking for cars, trucks, SUVs, etc.
Affects perception of distance and speed.
Typical comment – “I didn’t see him!”
Look Twice!
Take an additional second to judge speed and distance.
Drivers have less time to execute turn than expected.
High incidence of car – motorcycle crashes.
What other factors might contribute to a crash when a driver is making a left turn?
Slide 17
We have talked about the smaller profile of motorcycles compared to other vehicles.
Drivers are used to looking for other cars and light trucks. Buses and big trucks cannot be ignored. Everyone sees them.
Their smaller size makes it more difficult to judge the speed and distance of an approaching motorcycle
Failure to see any vehicle on the road is not an excuse recognized by the law. You will still get a ticket for violating another vehicle’s right-of-way, and you may cause an accident, too.
Take a second, or third glance to make sure there is nothing hidden in the traffic that you didn’t recognize with the first or second look
If it takes an extra second to scan oncoming traffic for a motorcycle, it will be well worth it to avoid an accident.
When the motorcycle is properly recognized, the usual errors in judgment are an underestimate of the motorcycle’s closing speed, or an overestimate of the distance to the motorcycle. In both cases, the driver thinks he has more time to complete the turn across the motorcycle’s path than he really has.
The previous slide shows one of the biggest hazards to motorcyclists on the road today.
One of the strategies motorcyclists use is to increase their visibility to others on the road. Ways of doing this are use of modulating headlights, wearing bright clothing or helmet, and strategic lane positioning. All of these help draw attention to a motorcyclist’s presence on the road. Look for these things, too!
What other factors might contribute to this kind of accident?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

19. Right Turn at Intersection
Single headlight and narrow profile make it difficult to judge distance and speed of the oncoming motorcycle.
Failure to yield Right-of-Way!
What are the possible results?
Slide 18
Diagram – Right turn at intersection
Many of us are in the habit of making a “rolling stop” at a familiar intersection when planning to turn right. By rolling through the turn rather than coming to a full stop, you reduce the time to observe, and perceive, what is coming at you. This requires the driver to make a split second decision whether the path is clear to turn without interfering with traffic that has the right-of-way.
Click
The profile of the motorcycle – its narrowness & one headlight - and possible background traffic can lead to an unwary driver making a poor decision.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

20. Left Turn at Intersection
Again, failure to yield the Right-of-Way!
What actions can drivers take to avoid this?
Similar situation with a left turn, but now driver is concerned about crossing another lane of traffic first.
Slide 19
Diagram – Left turn at intersection
The driver in the blue car is making a left turn into traffic. Just like a right turn into traffic, the driver here needs to have enough space & time to merge with traffic. The added focus of crossing a lane of traffic can divide the driver’s attention. Now he has to check both left & right before making the turn.
Click
If the driver misjudges the distance or speed of the approaching motorcycle and turns in front of the bike, the motorcyclist must brake or swerve to avoid an accident with the car. This can be avoided.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

21. Turning at Intersections
Failure to yield right-of-way … “I didn’t see …”
 Again, Look Twice! How long can it take?
Unexpectedly pulling out in front of a motorcycle leaves the rider too little time to react.
A motorcycle traveling at the posted speed meets vehicle accelerating from a stop.
What other factors might contribute to a crash when a driver is making a turn into traffic?
Slide 20
What do we take away from these scenarios?
Pulling into traffic requires the driver to yield the right of way to through traffic. It does not matter whether the traffic is a bus, an SUV, a car, or the smallest motorcycle. Might does not make right.
Click
All drivers joining traffic from a cross street at an intersection, or coming out of a parking lot, are expected to wait for adequate space to join traffic and get up to speed without causing traffic to slow down.
This is obviously more of an issue to motorcyclists due to their vulnerability – they have no “cage” to protect them, or seatbelts for that matter. Pulling out in front of traffic can lead to a collision when traffic does not have enough time / distance to slow down to the merging car’s speed.
What other factors contribute to accidents when turning into traffic?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

22. Watch closely as a motorist fails to check blind spot and a collision occurs. Could this have been avoided and how or why not? Are both at fault?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

23. Why Motorists Collide with Motorcycles
Motorists fail to look for motorcycles. Motorists are familiar with looking for other motorists, not motorcycles.
Due to their smaller size, motorists often misjudge a motorcycles speed & distance.
Slide 21
Click
Certainly, motorcycles – with their narrow profile and smaller size – are more easily blocked out by objects between them and other drivers, whether it is a truck, SUV, telephone pole, sign, bus stop shelter, or other object found near the road. It could even be a truck mirror blocking a truck driver’s view of traffic on a side street.
It does not matter if the object blocking one’s view is moving or fixed – it can shield an impatient driver long enough to make it look as though a lane is clear to move into when it really is not.
It only takes one rolling stop and a driver pulling out into traffic in front of a motorcycle – or other vehicle – to cause a serious accident.
Blind spots are found in everyday driving. They are a common occurrence with all kinds of vehicles.
Driver distractions or inattention.
Motorcycle is temporarily obscured from motorist view as the result of a blind spot.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

24. Blind Spots
Areas of the road that cannot be seen while looking forward or in the rear-view or side mirrors.
Blind spots can easily hide a motorcycle in a traffic scene, such as pillar posts, mirrors or hanging objects.
It only takes a “blind” instant for a driver to turn in front of a motorcycle.
The deadly results from these moments can change the lives of those involved forever!
Slide 22
Let’s discuss blind spots for a bit. Four basic types or categories:
Areas around your car that you cannot see in your mirrors are commonly called Blind Spots.
Stationary objects that hide things from your view produce a second kind of Blind Spot.
Moving vehicles also block your view of the driving environment creating a third type of Blind Spot.
Finally, things inside your car can also obstruct your view and create Blind Spots.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

25. Blind Spots
In the left photo, a pillar post creates a Blind Spot and completely hides a motorcycle & rider from the drivers view.
The right photo shows what was hidden from the drivers view.
Blind Spots can also obscure much larger objects!
Slide 23
Slide 24
Slide 25
Here are some examples of blind spots.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

26. Blind Spots
In the left photo, the driver checks the vehicles left mirror prior to a lane change. The driver observes no vehicles. A quick check over the left shoulder, depicted in the photo on the right, and you can see the motorcyclist was hidden in the mirrors Blind Spot. A quick look over the shoulder, left or right, can prevent a crash!
Slide 23
Slide 24
Slide 25
Here are some examples of blind spots.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

27. Blind Spots
The left photo is an example of Blind Spots motorists create for themselves. The right photo depicts what was blocked from view.
If this placard can obscure a dump truck, it can easily hide a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist. Why Risk It?
Slide 23
Slide 24
Slide 25
Here are some examples of blind spots.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

28. How many blind spots can you identify?
Slide 26
Diagram – Blind spots
In this scenario there are only four vehicles. How many blind spots can you pick out? Some of the blind spots are listed here. Expect the audience to find others.
A – Left bike in right rear blind spot of blue car
B – Right bike in blind spot of truck
C – Blue car cannot see right bike behind truck
D – Right biker cannot see blue car
Each vehicle has blind spots that vehicles coming up from behind must pass through.
Left biker can most likely see over the blue car if it is a sedan, but not if it is an SUV.
Some of these blind spots are moving at different relative speeds, so the blind spots will change with time. If the left bike moves alongside the blue car, the driver of the blue car can see him. Hopefully the driver knew he was coming up from behind because he used his mirrors!
Click and observe motion.
Blue car moves over into the lane the motorcycle is occupying and cuts him off because the driver did not see the bike. The bike was in the driver’s blind spot. Have you ever seen this happen?
It could just as easily have been the blue car turning left across the truck’s path and into the path of the right motorcycle. If the right motorcycle’s speed was greater than the truck it could result in an emergency situation for the cyclist.
Did you see that coming?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

29. Blind Spot at Intersection
Failure to yield right-of-way due to the Blind Spot!
What actions can you take to avoid this?
Same left turn intersection with addition of blind spot interfering with driver’s view of the motorcycle.
Slide 27
Diagram – Blind spot at Intersection – moving car
The blue car in this slide is the same one from the previous diagram where he made a left turn into traffic. In this case, the red car adds a complication to the situation.
As the red car moves down the road, it creates a moving blind spot from the perspective of the driver in the blue car.
Click and observe motion
When the red car passes the blue car at the intersection, the motorcycle moves into the blind spot beyond the red car as shown by the dotted lines.
How does the driver in the blue car avoid causing an accident?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

30. Blind Spots
Look for cars & motorcycles possibly hidden in blind spots before making your decision to move.
Blind spots are typically found over the shoulder – behind and to each side – of a moving vehicle.
Make a point to move with caution through another vehicle’s blind spot for your own safety.
Be aware when you are in someone’s blind spot – they can’t see you, and others can’t see you.
Slide 28
Be aware that vehicles may be hidden from your view behind fixed or moving objects.
Do a head check – turn your head – to make sure there is no vehicle hiding in your blind spot before changing lanes.
Trucks have large blind spots, and create rolling blind spots where cars are hidden from your view. SUVs and cars have smaller blind spots, but they are there.
Avoid hanging out in another vehicle’s blind spot- Especially if you are driving the smaller vehicle. Move quickly through another’s blind spot when you are passing.
Fixed objects near the road cast a shadow of a blind spot dependent on your position. Anything that you cannot see through blocks your sight of objects beyond.
Scan the road in both directions while approaching and waiting at an intersection. Capture a mental image of the traffic with each glance and check to see what changes each time you look.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

31. Mirror Adjustment-Tip
Remember, your side view mirrors are not “rear view” mirrors. They can be a huge blind spot tool.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

32. Driver Distractions & Why Motorist Awareness
In today’s society motorists are diverting more & more attention away from the primary task of the safe operation of their vehicle.
Passengers, eating, smoking, shaving, applying make-up, reading, and managing audio systems are all traditional driver distractions.
Slide 29-30
Motorist Awareness of motorcycles on the road and the hazards they face is necessary if we are going to save lives and create a safer roadway environment.
Driver distractions, in many forms, significantly raise the bar in the need for greater awareness.
Now we add cellular telephones and navigation systems to the mix of other distractions.
Can you think of any others?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

33. Driver Distractions
The safe operation of your vehicle should be your primary concern. Operating a motor vehicle in itself is a complex operation requiring concentration along with hand, foot and eye coordination.
The more distracted a motorist becomes, the greater the odds of a collision.
Slide 29-30
Motorist Awareness of motorcycles on the road and the hazards they face is necessary if we are going to save lives and create a safer roadway environment.
Driver distractions, in many forms, significantly raise the bar in the need for greater awareness.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

34. Driver Distractions
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

35. Components of Stopping Any Motor Vehicle
Bringing a vehicle to a complete stop includes 3 components:
Perception – seeing a hazard and recognizing the need to brake (up to 0.75 seconds).
Reaction – amount of time to move foot to brake pedal (up to 0.75 seconds).
Execution – distance required to bring the vehicle to a halt (numbers below).
Slide 33
Stopping involves time before the physical act of braking.
Click
First, the driver must see a need to slow down. This comes from recognizing the situation ahead requires it, whether it is for a stop light or a hazard in the road. This is the mental part and takes a fraction of a second.
Reaction time is when the driver move’s his foot to the brake pedal. This adds another fraction of a second.
Execution is usually measured in feet required to bring the vehicle to a stop.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

36. Comparison of Vehicle Stopping Distances
Stopping Distances 60 – 0 mph (no reaction time included)
 Bike: 105 – 140’
 Car: – 139’
Quick stopping motorcycle stops 14’ shorter than a quick car!
 SUV: ’
Most SUVs will plow right through the motorcycle and rider!
Slide 34-35
Just to illustrate the significant differences in stopping a vehicle, some stopping distances are shown here.
Not including driver’s or rider’s reaction times, generally smaller vehicles can stop in a shorter distance than a large vehicle. Here are some actual ranges of stopping distances for various motorcycles, cars and SUVs to come to a complete stop from a speed of 60mph. Not all cars stop in 130 feet, for example. Some stop shorter, or quicker, than others. Same for SUVs and motorcycles.
For safety, you want your vehicle to stop in a short distance to help you avoid a collision.
Recommended following distance for a motorcycle is 2 seconds minimum under ideal conditions. Good visibility, clean dry road surface providing excellent traction, motorcycle, and the operator, both in good condition. Tires are especially important.
When conditions are not as good, the safe following distance must increase.
Similar recommendations are made for other vehicles.
Ask the question: If your car travels further to stop than the motorcycle in front of you, what can you expect to happen?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

37. Safe Space Cushion
Perception/Reaction time + Stopping distance = Safe Space Cushion.
Minimum spacing for a car following a motorcycle should be at least 3 seconds.
Allow more time between vehicles if you drive a truck, SUV or should weather & road conditions dictate.
If your vehicle travels further while stopping than the motorcycle in front of you, what can we expect to happen?
Slide 34-35
Just to illustrate the significant differences in stopping a vehicle, some stopping distances are shown here.
Not including driver’s or rider’s reaction times, generally smaller vehicles can stop in a shorter distance than a large vehicle. Here are some actual ranges of stopping distances for various motorcycles, cars and SUVs to come to a complete stop from a speed of 60mph. Not all cars stop in 130 feet, for example. Some stop shorter, or quicker, than others. Same for SUVs and motorcycles.
For safety, you want your vehicle to stop in a short distance to help you avoid a collision.
Recommended following distance for a motorcycle is 2 seconds minimum under ideal conditions. Good visibility, clean dry road surface providing excellent traction, motorcycle, and the operator, both in good condition. Tires are especially important.
When conditions are not as good, the safe following distance must increase.
Similar recommendations are made for other vehicles.
Ask the question: If your car travels further to stop than the motorcycle in front of you, what can you expect to happen?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

38. Unsafe Following Distance
Both vehicles are traveling the posted speed – 55mph
The car is ½ second (40+’) behind the sidecar in deer country
Slide 36
Diagram – Unsafe Following Distance – deer crossing the road
Here is a case in point. Both vehicles are traveling the posted speed in Western Washington where deer roam free. And deer are not very predictable. They are prone to cross the road at inopportune times for drivers- And for motorcyclists, too. When a driver is too close to the motorcycle in front, the driver does not have enough time to prevent this from happening.
Click and observe motion
The driver of the sidecar was surprised by the deer bolting out from the woods beyond the shoulder of the road.
His quick reactions and excellent braking power of the sidecar rig allowed him to avoid hitting the deer.
However, the driver in the blue car was traveling too close to stop in a straight line without hitting the sidecar. He was maintaining an Unsafe Following Distance.
What happens when the sidecar rider encounters an emergency situation?
That’s gonna hurt!
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

39. Too Close to Be Safe
Even a small ‘bump’ into the back of a motorcycle can have devastating effects.
Drivers following too closely:
Eliminates safe space cushion
Shortens available reaction time
Increases chances of a rear end collision
Eliminates emergency choices for motorcyclist
What other factors might contribute to a crash when a driver does not follow at a safe distance?
Slide 37
If a motorcycle is stopped at an intersection with cross traffic, and a car bumps into the back of the motorcycle, that ‘bump’ can have enough force to push the motorcyclist out into the traffic pattern resulting in a catastrophe.
When drivers follow too closely, they compromise their safety and the safety of those they are following.
They eliminate their space cushion
Which reduces available reaction time
This increases the chance of a rear end collision if the vehicle in front must stop quickly
This takes away one of a motorcyclists options – braking quickly – because he can be rear-ended by the vehicle that is too close
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

40. “Have You Seen a Motorcycle Today?”
Share The Road
Keep multi-tasking to a minimum – Focus on the primary task at hand, the safe operation of your vehicle.
Drive Aware – Motorcycles are everywhere!.
“Have You Seen a Motorcycle Today?”
Slide 38-39
Share the Road.
Keep multi-tasking to a minimum when driving.
Look twice and remember there are motorcycles everywhere.
Have you seen one today?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

41. How You Can Help
Think Motorcycles – Every time you drive expect motorcycles to be on the road with you.
Make it your practice to actively look for motorcycles. In time it will become a habit & you will reduce the chances of having a collision with a motorcyclist.
Share the Road – Be courteous, signal your intentions of a turn or lane change. Check the Blind Spots before you move.
Slide 31-32
How can you help?
Read the points the slide.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

42. How You Can Help
Give motorcycles more space than you would give other vehicles. Remember motorcycles do not have protective exteriors like other motor vehicles.
Allow at least a 3-second following distance behind a motorcycle during good driving conditions. In poor weather or wet roads increase the following distance to 5-seconds.
Be especially cautious at intersections & when entering or exiting driveways.
Slide 31-32
How can you help?
Read the points the slide.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

43. We have talked about the following topics:
Summary
We have talked about the following topics:
The GWRRA
What Familiarity is and Why it Helps
Motorcycle Characteristics & Who Rides Them
Hazardous Road & Driving Scenarios
Why Motorists Collide with Motorcycles
Blind Spots  Driver Distractions
How You Can Help  Harder to identify in Traffic
Why Motorist Awareness & “Sharing the Road”
Slide 40
We have introduced you to GWRRA, who we are and what we do.
What Familiarity is and Why it Helps
We have talked about Motorcycle Characteristics & Who Rides Them
Hazardous Road & Driving Scenarios
Why Motorists Collide with Motorcycles
Blind Spots  Driver Distractions
How You Can Help  Harder to identify in Traffic
We have explained the need for Motorist Awareness and informed you about the “Share the Road” program and what we hope it will accomplish – making the roads safer for us all
Remember to watch out for motorcycles. Look twice, save a life!
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

44. Questions/Comments PowerPoint by: T. Dave Chavez, Jr., RI RMAC, WA-E
Assisted by: Vic Parr, WA-V
Slide 41
Are there any questions from the group?
Here is my contact information
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

45. GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION Motorist Awareness Division
THANK YOU!
And Please –
LOOK TWICE!
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!
Modified: ChavezD Region I RMAC 2012