Motorcycle Safety

Be an active rider. Be visible, easy to notice and obvious.

Facts

The average age of a motorcycle owner is 46. Motorcycle fatalities are highest for individuals ages 21 to 25.
More than 4,300 motorcyclists died in crashes in the United States in 2013.
In 2013, Missouri recorded 98 fatal motorcycle crashes, 2,065 personal injury crashes, 104 deaths and 2,404 individuals were injured as a result of motorcycle accidents.
When it comes to motorcycle-related deaths, 91 percent of motorcyclist deaths are male while 61 percentage of motorcycle passenger deaths are female.
Motorcycle fatalities are highest between May and September and during weekends after 6 p.m.
The blood alcohol consumption level was at or above 0.08 for 28 percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers.
Wearing a helmet decreases the chance of dying in a crash by 37 percent. Riders without helmets are three times more likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury in a crash.
Missouri has a universal helmet law that requires all motorcycle riders, including the passenger, to wear a helmet.

Be licensed and informed.
S.E.E. when on the road: Search, Evaluate and Execute.
Have a safe attitude and mindset before starting the motorcycle.
Ensure working lights on all areas of the motorcycle.
Use reflective equipment.
Buy a bike with an anti-lock brake system (ABS).
Avoid riding in wet, rainy, slippery, icy, snowy, foggy and windy conditions.
Avoid riding when the temperature is less than 40F.
Dress appropriately. Wear a helmet with a face shield, gloves, jacket, pants and boots.

Ride sober.
Make yourself visible to all drivers on the road at all times.
Wear your helmet at all times.
Look forward, left, right, and backward using the mirrors.
Share the road.
Be aware of surroundings.
Use your signals before making lane changes.
Check all directions before changing lanes.
Consider the differences between the safety features on a car or truck and the safety features on a motorcycle. Most of what comes standard on best-selling vehicles is missing on motorcycles, such as: airbags, seat belt locking mechanism, back-up camera, extended bumper, doors, crumple zone and a roof.

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