Look twice for motorcycles during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

As more motorcyclists hit the roads to enjoy the warmer weather, taking an extra moment to double check for them can save a life.

Motorcycles are not only smaller and harder to spot, but they also do not contain most of the safety features found in other vehicles. Nearly 600 people riding motorcycles were killed in crashes in Texas last year, and more than 2,400 riders were seriously injured, according to a press release by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

One of those motorcyclists was Al Peterson, a husband and father of three children, who nearly died last May when another driver turned left in front of him while riding his motorcycle in Austin.

“By the time they pulled out in front of me, I didn’t have any time to react in any way – tap my break, accelerate, swerve, nothing,” Peterson said. “So, I ran into the side of the vehicle when they pulled out in front of me.”

Peterson was thrown over the vehicle and landed around 20 yards from his motorcycle.

“The vehicle then parked on top of my leg and was parked there until first responders were able to come and pick the vehicle up off my leg and get me loaded onto the ambulance,” Peterson said.

The crash left him with damaged organs, broken bones, eating, drinking, and breathing through a tube, and other severe internal injuries. He remained in the hospital for nine weeks and in a medically induced coma for two weeks.

“It’s a miracle that I am still alive, and I am still one of thousands of Texas motorcyclists who are seriously injured or killed on the roads each year,” Peterson said. “Drivers need to slow down and use extra caution when making left turns and look twice for motorcycles.”

The number of motorcyclists killed in 2023 increased by 7% from the year before, and intersection fatal crashes increased by 21%, according to TxDOT.

“It can be hard to judge the distance, size, and speed of a motorcycle, which is why we need to pay extra attention when sharing the road,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “We want everyone to get home safe, and that means drivers should be on the lookout for motorcycles and give them adequate space, especially when turning.”

Drivers can help stop the rising trend in fatalities by always looking twice for motorcycles. Safety tips from TxDOT to prevent crashes and protect motorcyclists include:

• Check yourself. Always remind yourself to keep an eye out for any motorcycles nearby. This will help your eyes and brain notice motorcycles on the road.
• Look twice. Use turn signals and check blind spots before changing lanes.
• Turning left? Avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle. It can be hard to judge their speed and distance, so let them pass first and always use your turn signal to alert them.
• Pay special attention at intersections. More than a third of all motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections.
• Make some space. Keep a safe following distance. Motorcyclists can reduce their speed by downshifting, which doesn’t activate the brake light. Treat motorcycles like cars by giving them a full lane when driving or passing.
• Slow down. Obey posted speed limits and drive according to conditions.
• Stay alert. Give driving your full attention. Even a momentary distraction can have deadly consequences.