Sharing the Roadways with Motorcycles - Joe Morten & Son

Throughout the course of the year, professional truck drivers share the roadways with all types of vehicles; one of these types is motorcycles. 

The 2015 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Safety Facts" website reveals the following statistics about motorcycles: 

• Motorcycles make up 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States and account for 0.6% of all vehicle miles traveled.
• Per registered vehicle, the fatality rate for motorcyclists in 2015 was six times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants.
• Approximately 57% of motorcycle fatalities occur in daylight.
• 4,976 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) 2015 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts website lists 225 fatalities involving large trucks colliding with motorcycles.

Truck drivers should make every attempt to be aware of motorcycles sharing the roadways. Hazards of identifying motorcycles include the following: 

• Motorcycles are small in stature.
• Motorcycles are hard to see during certain times of the day.
• Motorcycles are hard to see during certain weather conditions.
• Motorcycles offer minimal occupant protection.
• Motorcycles are able to accelerate, stop, change lanes, and turn quickly.