Ride safely

New York State Police, in honor of May being Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, is offering a number of safety tips — not only for riders, but all motorists.

As the number of motorcycles on the road increases, so does the potential for crashes, a problem multiplied by the fact that most riders have not taken their bike out on the road since last season and that most people are not accustomed to sharing the road with the less visible motorcycle rider.

Nationally, preliminary statistics show that motorcycle fatalities declined in 2010 by at least 2 percent, must less than the 16 percent decrease in 2010. Preliminary data for New York however, showed an increase in fatal crashes for 2010.

New York State’s Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee attributes the projected increase in fatal motorcycle crashes to a rise in motorcycle registrations as the baby boom generation rediscovers its passion for riding and a longer and more favorable riding season related to good weather.

There have already been multiple fatal motorcycle crashes in Western New York this year.

To be safe, riders should ensure their personal protective equipment and their bikes are in good condition. When taking to the road for the first time, they should take time to ‘warm up’ and get comfortable with driving skills and be aware that they not as visible to others as they appear to them, be defensive minded and anticipate and be prepared to react to any sudden emergency situation.

Non-riders need to take that critical extra second to look before entering the roadway, crossing intersections or changing lanes. No one wants to live with the memory that they caused a fatal motorcycle crash.