Northwest Iowa — May is motorcycle safety awareness month. A time to remind drivers of cars and trucks that they’re once again sharing the road with motorcycle riders.
Trooper Kevin Krull of the Iowa State Patrol says distracted driving is particularly dangerous during the warm months, and motorists need to drive as defensively as motorcyclists.
(As above) “May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and distracted driving is basically deals with the defensive driving. Most motorcyclists are very good at defensive driving because, let’s face it, they have to be.”
Trooper Krull says you need to watch very closely for motorcycles, and expect them to be there.
(As above) “We got to start paying attention for the motorcyclists out there. And you know those excessive speeds, it’s hard to pay attention and react in time anyway. So let’s slow it down out there and pay attention to what’s going on around us so we can share the road, as they say, with the motorcyclists.”
As for speed, Krull says excessive speeds, along with violators running from law enforcement, is on the increase, and he says running seldom turns out well for the violator.
(As above) “Speeds over twenty five miles an hour over the speed limit are a fifty three percent increase on a four year average. One hundred miles an hour are up fifty eight percent, and the pursuits are climbing up as well. They must think we’re not doing our job, that we’re not out there, but we are and when they realize we’re about to stop them, forty five percent more people are running than they used to. And we’re still catching them because we have cars that have pretty good motors in them and we also have radios and partners out here (on the road).”
Trooper Krull had some final advice for both motorists and motorcycle riders.
(As above) “If you’re on a bike, pay attention. if you’re in a car, pay extra attention for the guys and gals on the bike. Share the road and be safe.”
Both motorcyclists and motorists need to be aware of their surroundings. Checking blind spots, mirrors and using turn signals are all necessary when changing lanes and when passing.
