GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION

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GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION Motorist
Awareness Division

• Share the Road with Motorcycles Seminar

October 2008
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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

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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.

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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

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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

• Cell phones
• Navigation systems
• DVD players

• Children pets
• Car stereos
• Fast food

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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

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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).

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Trike Conversion

• Trike conversion replaces the rear wheel of the
  motorcycle with an automotive type axle.
• Both rear wheels drive cycle.

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Sidecar Conversion

• Sidecar, with its own wheel, is fixed to the
  motorcycle frame.

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2-Wheel Stability Add-On

• Voyager add-on kit example
• Cycle keeps rear wheel for power

Photos courtesy of Motorcycle Tour Conversion,
Inc.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Left Turn Across Traffic
One of the most common types of car motorcycle
collisions
Driver turns left in front of motorcycle as
though it isnt even there! Why?
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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 didnt 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?

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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?
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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.
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Turning at Intersections

• Failure to yield right-of-way I didnt 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?

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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!

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Blind Spots
How many blind spots can you identify?
Did you see that coming?
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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 drivers view of the
motorcycle.
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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
  vehicles blind spot for your own safety.
• Be aware when you are in someones blind spot
  they cant see you, and others cant see you.

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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).

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Comparison of Vehicle Stopping Distances

• Stopping Distances 60 0 mph (no reaction time
  included)
• Bike 105 140
• Car 119 139
• Quick stopping motorcycle stops 14 shorter than
  a quick car!
• SUV 134 - 173
• Most SUVs will plow right through the motorcycle
  and rider!

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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?

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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?
Thats gonna hurt!
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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?

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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

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GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION Motorist
Awareness Division
THANK YOU! And Please - LOOK TWICE!
October 2008