By Ray Henke, a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer, Biker Rights Advocate and founder of Motorcyclists Against Dumb Drivers



The objective of our motorcycling community should be first andforemost to attempt to increase our safety on our American roads andhighways. The solution is first to identify the principle causes ofmotorcycle accidents, and then to arrive at means to reduce theincidence of motorcycle accidents resulting from those causes. What thelargest study of motorcycle accidents demonstrates is that two-thirdsof all motorcycle accidents result from the inattention and negligenceof auto drivers, two-thirds of that number, or fifty percent of thetotal resulting when the auto driver pulls out from a side street intoan intersection or turns left at an intersection into themotorcyclist's right of way.

The solutions to auto driver inattention and negligence involvelegislation, motorcycle awareness programs and education, meaningspecifically, auto driver education on how to drive safely for theprotection of motorcyclists. The type of legislation that motorcyclegroups have been able to obtain in many states to address specificallythis most common type of motorcycle accident include ROWV laws, meaning"right-of-way violation laws," providing more serious penalties,preferably long drivers license suspensions, where a resulting from the auto driver's having violated the rider's right of way.

Many motorcyclists are aware of "Motorcycle Awareness" programs, nowgiven at least some attention by State Governors proclaiming May asMotorcycle Awareness month. But there is much more that must be doneyear long. Every city and town should place permanent "Please Watch forMotorcyclists" signs at even just a few key intersections given thatintersections are the location where these most common of motorcycleaccidents occur. There are a growing number of cities that are doingthis. But much more should be done given the seriousness of thismotorcyclist safety issue. You can read more about what can and shouldbe done at but most importantly we need to provide auto driver educationopportunities specifically to inform auto drivers about what they needto do for the protection of their "two-wheeled friends."

One example is to modify the DMV booklets that auto drivers review inpreparation to take the written examinations to obtain and renew theirauto drivers licenses. The booklets should contain comprehensiveinformation about motorcyclist safety, the most common ways that autodrivers endanger motorcyclists, and how best to adapt their driving forthe protection of motorcyclists, for example, by specifically lookingfor oncoming motorcycles before entering or turning left atintersections. The booklets should also go into turning around to lookinto their rear view mirror blind spots, and the disparity ofmotorcycle breaking distances compared to those for autos of differentsizes to reduce rear-end motorcycle accidents.

In addition, we would hope that the states would take the opportunityto similarly educate auto drivers by making motorcycle safety asignificant part of the curriculum in all high school and other driverinstruction programs, as well as in all voluntary or court ordereddriver education programs, such as those offered in most states fordrunk drivers or drivers seeking to avoid a traffic ticket point ontheir driving records, and we would urge specifically for thoseconvicted of any right-of-way violation.

Thank you for considering these motorcycle safety proposals. I hopethat when these matters come up in your state that you will considerwriting to your state legislators to let them know of your informedopinion.

Ray Henke, a . He is a made member of B.O.L.T., and currently, B.O.L.T. of He also co-moderates Bruce & Ray's Biker Forum.