Missouri Motorcycle Safety Program

Nearly half of all fatal motorcycle crashes happen when one collides with another vehicle. Pay attention. Look twice. Motorcycles are hard to see.

Hot day in Springfield for my latest site visit. Ozark Tech College, OTC, runs a great program. If you are in the area and looking for a class to learn to ride, check them out. Missouri Safety Center

Happy Tuesday, weather is great and that means more bikes out there which means more smiles too. If you do ride, make sure you are fully geared for your ride. S.E.E. and be seen. Missouri Safety Center

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Problem 2: Riders in Curves We’ve got all kinds of roads in Missouri straight, hilly, and curvy but one mistake can put you into the grass, the rocks, the trees, or... down a ravine. Many times it’s not the first curve that’s the problem. It’s the second or third in a series of curves that sucks you in, chews you up and spits you out. The Problem Behavior While we can’t take the curves out of the road (nor would we want to!), we can change ou...r approach. There are innumerable reasons for missing a curve, but most point to one problem behavior: Being unprepared. When unprepared riders whether beginners, experienced riders or experts fail to negotiate a turn, it’s because they enter too fast, in poor position, with no exit strategy. Act, Don’t React When a corner catches you unprepared, it’s not too late to act if you have your wits about you. Most important is that you look through the turn. Don’t look down, don’t look at the guardrail, don’t look at the shoulder or oncoming semi truck. Look through the turn, to the exit. The motorcycle wants to go where you look. When you feel like you’re in too hot, the simple act of looking through the turn can save you. If your speed is still way too fast for the turn, gently reduce your speed a little roll-off can help tighten your line. If you’re still running out of road, press the inside handgrip more and lean the bike further. Trust those tires. The Strategy Every curve should be approached the same way: From the outside, at a safe entry speed, with an eye for the exit. An outside position provides the best line of sight and widest radius. A safe entry speed is one that allows you to slow or stop if the turn goes wrong. For experienced riders in good conditions, safe entry speed might be the curve’s advisory speed or just below it. The exit is where the curve ends. As you round the turn, continue to hold your outside line and entry speed until you know where curve leads. Don’t accelerate until you can see the exit that’s your target. And beware: Sometimes the exit is a nice, long straightaway... but sometimes it’s another curve, in the opposite direction. At that point your target is no longer the curve’s exit. Now it’s the entrance to the next turn. #MotorcycleSafetyAwarenessMonth #motorcycleawareness #seemotorcycles #motorcyclistslovecurves Missouri Safety Center MoDOT #BUPD #SaveMoLives Save MO Lives Motorcyclists: In blind curves, hold your speed, path (black line in photo below) and outside position until you can see (yellow line in photo) where the curve leads.

Watch for motorcycles. If you're a rider, do all you can to be seen. Missouri Safety Center

Good, responsible motorclists wear #ATGATT (All the Gear ALL the Time). ATGATT includes a helmet with eye protection, riding jacket, riding pants, full finger gloves, and boots that cover the ankle. The next time you're driving, every time you see a motorcycle, pay attention to what the rider is wearing. Not only will you be able to pick out the responsible riders, but you'll probably start noticing a lot more #motorcycles! #MotorcycleSafetyAwarenessMonth #seemotorcycles #motorcycleawareness #sharetheroad #LookTwiceSaveALife #BUPD Missouri Safety Center MoDOT Save MO Lives

Great day in Warrensburg Missouri Safety Center. MMSP and Skidcar/Skidbike showing how latest technology on motorcycles can help keep riders safer with ABS braking, traction control and stability control.

Watch for motorcycles. Missouri Safety Center Save MO Lives Missouri Department of Transportation

It’s the start of the summer of site visits around Missouri. Had the pleasure of spending time at St Charles Park Rangers and Big St Charles. Great work by these instructors both in the sun and rain. Also had an awesome time at dinner with Jeff P and his lovely wife Karen. Good times with great people. Look forward to many more visits this year. Missouri Safety Center

Be aware of your 360 awareness. True for all motorists, but please look for us on motorcycles. Missouri Safety Center Save MO Lives Missouri Department of Transportation

Our drawing winners! Thank you to every single one of our Riding Academy Reunion Graduates who came out and joined us today!

Sounds like fun, Ride smart and ride safe to you all down in Joplin.

As a motorcyclist, you should SEE and be SEEN. For other roadway users, please look for us.

This seems about right today. Time for nice fall ride. Ride smart and ride safe.

Be aware for those of you in the area.

We have some great fall weather right now, but if you want to continue riding as it get colder, here are some tips to keep warmer.

Now that it is getting darker way early, do you know the answer to Dr Ray's question?

Happy Halloween, ride smart and ride safe.

Fun Friday post. Looks like a lot of fun.

No matter what type of vehicle you drive/ride, you should always have an emergency kit.

Wow & How...........