May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and also here in New Hampshire, thanks to Governor Chris Sununu signing a proclamation recognizing the cause. The proclamation promoting motorcycle safety is a reminder that it takes effort from everyone to ensure safety on the road. As the weather warms up and motorcyclists begin to take their bikes out of hibernation, it is important to be extra vigilant on the road.
Video recorded May, 2022:
Last Fall, WMUR reported the motorcycle death toll in New Hampshire was the highest in nearly.
Over the past two decades, New Hampshire has averaged 22 motorcyclist deaths per year. Last year, there were 39 fatalities, the highest number since 2005. "While there's no perfect answer on how to be perfectly safe while riding a motorcycle, statistically, people who take training courses before riding tend to stay safer on the road," said Larry Crowe, coordinator of New Hampshire's motorcycle rider education program.
Source: WMUR.com A NHADA Platinum Partner
Rider protection, along with increased driver awareness, is key to preventing fatal accidents. We believe all riders should adhere to the RIDE S.M.A.R.T. NH principles developed by our friends at the New Hampshire Motorcyclist Rights Organization (NHMRO).
A KNOWLEDGEABLE RIDER IS A SMART RIDER! GET INSPIRED TO BE A BETTER RIDER!
| Safely | Sober & unimpaired; check your tires, brakes, and lights. |
| Maturely | Ride within your skill limits & the limits of your motorcycle. |
| Aware | Pay attention to your surroundings & the road conditions; be aware of your passenger. |
| Respectfully | Be respectful of yourself, your passenger & other road users. |
| Trained | Riders with training are more skillful; consider all forms of training to improve your skills. |
We encourage all motorcyclists to enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Course. The courses are now offered statewide through the NH DMV Motorcycle Rider Training program. The information and class offerings can be found here: https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/driver-licensing/motorcycle/training.htm
A few tips to share with employees and visitors from the National Safety Council (NSC) during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month are:
- Passenger car drivers must allow greater following distance behind a motorcycle.
- Drivers also must show extra caution in intersections. Most crashes occur when a driver fails to see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of a motorcycle.
- Drivers should never try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Always give a motorcycle the full lane width.
- Motorcyclists should position their motorcycles to avoid a driver's blind spot.
- Motorcyclists must use turn signals for every turn or lane change.
Another former WMUR article featured motorcycle preparation & readiness tips delivered by Matty Laughlin, the general manager of Manchester Harley-Davidson:
"Check the tires, not only for the proper inflation of the tire, but for tread depth, make sure there's no dry rotting. And if you have a bike with spokes, you're going to want to make sure those spokes are tensioned properly, or it could be a big safety concern,” Laughlin said. “You're going to want to check the chassis, make sure that there are no issues with the chassis of the bike, and you're going to want to check the oils and fluids."
It's also important this time of year to pay attention to navigating sand, salt, leaves, and other road conditions you might encounter on a motorcycle.
To kickstart the riding season in New Hampshire, we are excited to again collaborate with the NH Motorcycle Safety Task Force to co-host NH Rides Day On Saturday, May 4, 2024.
While May is the month to recognize this paramount issue nationally, let us all commit to making our roads safer every day. Remember to practice responsible riding and driving habits and encourage others to do the same. Ride safe, ride smart, and enjoy sharing the road!
