PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – Lots of motorcyclists are taking advantage of the warmer weather, and officials around the Pine Belt want to make sure you are prioritizing safety while riding alongside bikers.
Macedonia Assistant Fire Chief Austin Extine advises you to look twice while on the road.
“The biggest thing is, in our state alone, we have one of the highest percentage rates of motorcycle accidents year in and year out,” he said.
Extine recommends leaving a couple of car lengths between your vehicle and a motorcycle if following one.
He also advises that you wear a helmet that meets the standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“In most cases, the drivers, when they are involved with a motorcycle being in a collision with another vehicle,” Extine said. “The driver of that vehicle most times says that they simply did not see the motorcycle or were unaware that they were there before the collision occurred.”
Other precautions include wearing reflective clothing while riding a motorcycle at night and knowing and obeying the posted speed limits.
“You have to respect the motorcycle,” Hattiesburg Cycles General Manager Jason Malone said. “It’s easy to get on that thing, get comfortable, and want to go faster, but speed is one of the most dangerous things as far as a motorcycle, and speed slows down your reaction time when things happen real quick on the highway.”
Malone says it is good to prepare for what will happen, but better to prepare for what could happen.
“Whenever you ride a motorcycle, you have to prepare for the slide and not the ride, because if it happens, you do want to be protected,” he said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says drivers should also be aware that motorcyclists may have to downshift and weave to avoid bumps and road hazards.
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