The National Park Service launches a safety campaign for riders on the Natchez Trace Parkway during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May.
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. — As motorcycle riders take to the scenic roads this spring, the National Park Service is promoting safety on the Natchez Trace Parkway through the “Different Road, Different Ride” campaign during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May.
The 444-mile parkway runs through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, offering a beautiful and historic ride that requires extra caution.
The National Park Service notes these unique challenges on the parkway:
- Tight curves, often one after the other
- Narrow lanes
- Limited shoulders with little space to correct if riders go off the road
- Wildlife at the edge of the road or crossing, especially deer and turkey
The parkway averages about 50 motorcycle crashes each year. Riders, even experienced ones, need to adjust their riding style to stay safe.
Key safety tips from the National Park Service include:
- Slow down on curves – Be prepared for decreasing radius curves that tighten as you go through them.
- Ride in center of lane & single file – This position and riding formation gives riders more space to maneuver on narrow lanes.
- Scan the road for wildlife – Wildlife like deer and turkeys can often be found feeding on the side of the road and unexpectedly crossing it, especially at dusk and dawn.
- Check weather conditions – Avoid riding in adverse weather, which can make road surfaces slippery.
