1. GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION Motorist Awareness Division
Share the Road with Motorcycles Seminar
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!
October 2008

2. Overview
The purpose of this seminar is to share with you some of the hazards drivers present to motorcyclists and how you can be part of the solution. We will discuss:
Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)
Motorcycle Characteristics
Hazardous Driving Scenarios
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

3. Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)
What is GWRRA?
Established in 1977, GWRRA is the largest single marque motorcycle organization in the world.
Based on the Honda Gold Wing touring motorcycle.
Over 80,000 members
Chapters in all 50 states – over 800 chapters
International - Chapters in at least 52 countries, including USA & Canada
Organized with local Chapters, in-state Districts, multi-state Regions, under a National/International umbrella.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

4. Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)
What Are We About?
Motto: Friends for Fun, Safety & Knowledge
Emphasis on educating our members
Rider Education Program training includes:
Both Riders and Co-Riders (passengers)
Seminars, videos, newsletters, magazine
Rider Courses to improve motorcycle riding skills
CPR, First Aid, AED training
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

5. Why Motorist Awareness?
“Few of us could have foreseen the increased hazards imposed on motorcyclists in the past five years.  Vehicle operators are now more distracted than any of us could ever have imagined.”
Mike Wright – Former GWRRA President and Executive Director
Driver distractions now include:
Children & pets
Car stereos
Fast food
Cell phones
Navigation systems
DVD players
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

6. Motorcycle Characteristics
Motorcycles differ from cars in several significant ways:
Narrow 2-wheeled vehicle
Harder to identify in traffic
Difficult to judge distance and speed
Ability to accelerate faster
Ability to stop quicker
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

7. More Than Two Wheels
Motorcycles, having only 2 wheels, are less stable but more nimble than cars, trucks and SUVs.
Other motorcycle based vehicles include:
Trikes
Sidecars
Motorcycles with 2-wheel add-on stability enhancers (like training wheels).
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

8. Trike Conversion
Trike conversion replaces the rear wheel of the motorcycle with an automotive – type axle.
Both rear wheels drive cycle.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

9. Sidecar Conversion
Sidecar, with its own wheel, is fixed to the motorcycle frame.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

10. 2-Wheel Stability Add-On
Voyager add-on kit example
Cycle keeps rear wheel for power
Photos courtesy of Motorcycle Tour Conversion, Inc.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

11. Motorcycle Equipment
Standard motorcycle requirements – state dependent
Headlight, tail light, brake light
Turn signals might be optional; hand signals often used.
Permanently attached seat & footrest.
Department of Transportation approved helmet.
Eye protection.
GWRRA promotes full coverage of the rider & co-rider
Helmet, eye protection, long sleeves & pants, full-fingered gloves, over the ankle footwear.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

12. What Keeps Us Up at Night!
Large numbers of motorcyclists die each year from other motorists failure to see them in traffic.
Failure to yield the right-of- way to motorcycles due to misperception is another factor in motorcycle crashes with other highway users.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

13. Hazardous Driving Scenarios
Actions by drivers in everyday traffic that pose the greatest risk to motorcyclists:
Turning across oncoming traffic.
Left or right turn at intersection from a stop.
Blind spots temporarily hiding motorcycles.
Unsafe following distances.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

14. Left Turn Across Traffic
One of the most common types of car – motorcycle collisions
Driver turns left in front of motorcycle as though it isn’t even there!
Why?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

15. Turning Across Traffic
Smaller profile makes motorcycles harder to see
Drivers accustomed to looking for cars, trucks, SUVs, etc.
Affects perception of distance and speed.
Typical comment – “I didn’t see him!”
Look Twice!
Take an additional second to judge speed and distance.
Drivers have less time to execute turn than expected.
High incidence of car – motorcycle crashes.
What other factors might contribute to a crash when a driver is making a left turn?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

16. Right Turn at Intersection
Single headlight and narrow profile make it difficult to judge distance and speed of the oncoming motorcycle.
Failure to yield Right-of-Way!
What are the possible results?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

17. Left Turn at Intersection
Again, failure to yield the Right-of-Way!
What actions can drivers take to avoid this?
Similar situation with a left turn, but now driver is concerned about crossing another lane of traffic first.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

18. Turning at Intersections
Failure to yield right-of-way … “I didn’t see …”
Again, Look Twice! How long can it take?
Unexpectedly pulling out in front of a motorcycle leaves the rider too little time to react.
A motorcycle traveling at the posted speed meets vehicle accelerating from a stop.
What other factors might contribute to a crash when a driver is making a turn into traffic?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

19. Blind Spots
Areas of the road that cannot be seen while looking forward or in the rear-view or side mirrors.
Blind spots can easily hide a motorcycle in a traffic scene.
It only takes a “blind” instant for a driver to turn in front of a motorcycle.
The deadly results from these moments can change the lives of those involved forever!
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

20. How many blind spots can you identify?
Did you see that coming?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

21. Blind Spot at Intersection
Failure to yield right-of-way due to the Blind Spot!
What actions can you take to avoid this?
Same left turn intersection with addition of blind spot interfering with driver’s view of the motorcycle.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

22. Blind Spots
Look for cars & motorcycles possibly hidden in blind spots before making your decision to move.
Blind spots are typically found over the shoulder – behind and to each side – of a moving vehicle.
Make a point to move with caution through another vehicle’s blind spot for your own safety.
Be aware when you are in someone’s blind spot – they can’t see you, and others can’t see you.
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

23. Components of Stopping Any Motor Vehicle
Bringing a vehicle to a complete stop includes 3 components:
Perception – seeing a hazard and recognizing the need to brake (up to 0.75 seconds).
Reaction – time to move foot to brake pedal (up to 0.75 seconds).
Execution – distance required to bring the vehicle to a halt (numbers below).
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

24. Comparison of Vehicle Stopping Distances
Stopping Distances 60 – 0 mph (no reaction time included)
Bike: 105 – 140’
Car: – 139’
Quick stopping motorcycle stops 14’ shorter than a quick car!
SUV: ’
Most SUVs will plow right through the motorcycle and rider!
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

25. Safe Space Cushion
Perception/Reaction distance + Stopping distance = Safe Space Cushion.
Minimum spacing for a car following a motorcycle should be at least 3 seconds.
Allow more time between vehicles if you drive a truck, SUV or should weather & road conditions dictate.
If your vehicle travels further while stopping than the motorcycle in front of you, what can we expect to happen?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

26. Unsafe Following Distance
Both vehicles are traveling the posted speed – 55mph
The car is ½ second (40+’) behind the sidecar in deer country
What happens when the sidecar rider encounters an emergency situation?
That’s gonna hurt!
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

27. Too Close to Be Safe
Even a small ‘bump’ into the back of a motorcycle can have devastating effects.
Drivers following too closely:
Eliminates safe space cushion
Shortens available reaction time
Increases chances of a rear end collision
Eliminates emergency choices for motorcyclist
What other factors might contribute to a crash when a driver does not follow at a safe distance?
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

28. We have talked about the following topics:
Summary
We have talked about the following topics:
GWRRA & Motorist Awareness
What is “Share the Road!”
Hazardous Driving Scenarios
Turning Across Traffic
Turning at Intersections
Blind Spots
Unsafe Following Distance
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

29. LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!

30. GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION Motorist Awareness Division
THANK YOU!
And Please - LOOK TWICE!
LOOK TWICE – Save a Life!
October 2008