May is motorcycle awareness month, and Manitoba Public Insurance is advising all motorists to stay safe on the roads.
MPI says fatal motorcycle crashes are on the rise on Manitoba’s rural public roadways, adding that over the last 2 years, nearly 300 motorists have been injured on Manitoba roads.
As the weather warms up MPI is reminding all drivers to watch closely for an increased amount of motorcyclists on our roads.
MPI has some safety tips for motorcyclists and drivers.
For motorcyclists:
- Wear the right gear, including an approved safety helmet, eye protection, jacket, pants and boots.
- Try to be highly visible whenever possible by wearing bright or fluorescent colours such as yellow, red or orange to enhance visibility.
- Ride with your headlight on and in a position on the roadway where you are visible to motorists and out of their blind spots.
For drivers:
- Always look twice when changing lanes and at intersections to be sure there isn’t a motorcycle or moped in the blind spot.
- Watch for signals. It may be hard to see a motorcycle or moped’s turning signal so watch for other signs like shoulder checking which can indicate the rider is planning to change lanes or turn.
- Keep your distance. Motorcycles and mopeds may stop faster than other vehicles. Maintain a following distance of at least four seconds and increase this distance at night or when it’s raining.
