“For almost 40 years, the American Motorcyclist Association has promoted motorcycle awareness in May because, as the weather warms in large parts of the country, riders take to the road in increasing numbers to enjoy the thrill of riding,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. Launched by the AMA in the early 1980s, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and its message have been adopted by many AMA-sanctioned clubs, state motorcycle-rights organizations, the motorcycle industry and government entities.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen the roads become more dangerous for all users, that is why it is incredibly important for drivers to remain attentive and alert to the presence of motorcycles on city, urban and rural streets and highways," Dingman added. “The safety of motorcyclists is the AMA’s top priority and, increasingly, distracted driving and over-reliance on driver-assistance technology are worrisome. That, combined with rising fatality statistics for road users across the board, is creating an unsettling trend that requires extra vigilance while driving."
AMA is also pleased to see lane-filtering legislation gaining traction in parts of the country as a commonsense safety measure to protect motorcyclists. Lane filtering reduces the chance of motorcyclists being rear-ended by allowing them to filter through congested traffic at safe speeds. Utah recently extended its lane filtering legislation for an additional five years, while Arizona passed legislation to legalize lane filtering that will go into effect this fall.
“Getting lane-filtering legislation passed starts at the grassroots level,” explained AMA On-Highway Government Relations Manager Tiffany Cipoletti. “We are seeing more elected officials warming up to lane filtering and we are eager to help more motorcyclists engage their state legislatures on this issue.”
Stay tuned to AMA’s social media channels throughout the month of May for more information and tips surrounding motorcycle safety and awareness, or cut to the chase here:
AmericanMotorcyclist.com