EDITORIAL: Watch for motorcycles on the road

Posted 6/1/10

Summer's arrival brings more motorcyclists to Wyoming's roads. With warm temperatures and longer days, some residents will opt to leave their cars in the garage and hit the road on their motorcycles.

Wyoming drivers sharing the highway with …

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EDITORIAL: Watch for motorcycles on the road

Posted

Summer's arrival brings more motorcyclists to Wyoming's roads. With warm temperatures and longer days, some residents will opt to leave their cars in the garage and hit the road on their motorcycles.Wyoming drivers sharing the highway with bikers need to be cautious and aware of motorcyclists' presence. Too often, distracted drivers fail to notice an oncoming motorcyclist.Last year, 13 people died in motorcycle crashes in Wyoming, according to the state's Department of Transportation.Just this spring, a few vehicles have collided with motorcyclists in the Powell area. Recently, a motorcyclist in Ralston was injured after a driver didn't see him and turned into his path. Thankfully, the man riding the Harley-Davidson survived the wreck.These crashes reiterate the need for drivers to take an extra moment to look twice for motorcyclists, especially at intersections.For motorcyclists and drivers on the same roadways, safety is a two-way street.All motorcyclists should wear helmets, even if Wyoming law doesn't require them to.Wearing helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists' lives in 2008, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It's simple — helmets save lives.Northwest Wyoming's highways lead to spectacular summer sights — but motorcyclists and drivers alike must be cautious when sharing roadways to ensure everyone arrives safely at their destinations.

Summer's arrival brings more motorcyclists to Wyoming's roads. With warm temperatures and longer days, some residents will opt to leave their cars in the garage and hit the road on their motorcycles.

Wyoming drivers sharing the highway with bikers need to be cautious and aware of motorcyclists' presence. Too often, distracted drivers fail to notice an oncoming motorcyclist.

Last year, 13 people died in motorcycle crashes in Wyoming, according to the state's Department of Transportation.

Just this spring, a few vehicles have collided with motorcyclists in the Powell area. Recently, a motorcyclist in Ralston was injured after a driver didn't see him and turned into his path. Thankfully, the man riding the Harley-Davidson survived the wreck.

These crashes reiterate the need for drivers to take an extra moment to look twice for motorcyclists, especially at intersections.

For motorcyclists and drivers on the same roadways, safety is a two-way street.

All motorcyclists should wear helmets, even if Wyoming law doesn't require them to.

Wearing helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists' lives in 2008, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It's simple — helmets save lives.

Northwest Wyoming's highways lead to spectacular summer sights — but motorcyclists and drivers alike must be cautious when sharing roadways to ensure everyone arrives safely at their destinations.

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