May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month- This year once again we are reminded “Look Twice Save a Life.” According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles Duval County reported 27 motorcycle fatalities in 2016, St Johns County reported 2 and Clay County reported 7. Motorcycle fatalities have continued to increase every year for the last 20 years. The state of Florida reported 462 motorcycle fatalities in 2013 that number has risen to 501 in 2016. Imagine a motorcyclist is driving through an intersection when a driver making a left hand turn quickly glances no cars are blocking the lane so they continue their left hand turn colliding with the motorcyclist attempting to ride straight cross the intersection. This scenario is one of the most common situations in serious motorcycle accidents. The driver of the vehicle may be a distracted they are looking for a larger vehicle another car or SUV they fail to notice the motorcycle. Decreasing the number of motorcycle accidents will require that drivers become more conscious of their presence on our roadways. The Florida Chapter of Abate recommends that all motorcycle riders take a rider education course. Florida law requires a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license to operate a motorcycle. In order to obtain the endorsement completion of a 15 hour basic motorcycle course is required. Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles has a list of approved courses and locations on their web site.
https://www.flhsmv.gov/…/motorcycl…/safety-course-locations/

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