Share the Road!
Driving Safely Around Motorcycles
Last year, 30.3 million people tuned in to watch the NFL’s Thanksgiving showdown between the Washington Football Team and the Dallas Cowboys. For those Americans (and probably for you if you’re reading this article), football is as essential to Thanksgiving as turkey and stuffing — but why? As it turns out, there are two answers to that question. The first is that games have been played on the holiday for almost as long as it has officially existed. Thanksgiving became a holiday in 1863, and just six years later, the third American football game in history was played on it. According to SB Nation, the Young America Cricket Club and the Germantown Cricket Club faced off in that inaugural Thanksgiving game in Philadelphia, and football has been played on Thanksgiving pretty much ever since! When the NFL was founded in 1920, the Thanksgiving game was official from the get-go. The second reason we watch football on Thanksgiving is more about money than tradition. In 1934, a Detroit Lions coach, George A. Richards, decided that in order to attract more fans, his team would make a point to always play on Thanksgiving when most people were off work. To sweeten the pot, he committed his radio station (an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network) to broadcasting the Thanksgiving game live on 94 different stations across America. This idea was a hit from day one! According to Sporting News, the long-unloved Lions “not only sold out the stadium, they also had to turn people away at the gates.” In 1966, the Dallas Cowboys signed on to play every Thanksgiving, too, for similar publicity reasons. Since those early days, football-themed traditions have flourished in American families. Apart from watching games on TV, one of the most popular is organizing a pre-turkey game of family touch football a la the sitcom “Friends.” (Its famed episode “The One With the Football” aired Nov. 21, 1996.) FOOTBALL AND THANKSGIVING: A MATCH MADE IN MARKETING HEAVEN
American roads have never been more dangerous for motorcycle drivers. Since 1998, the annual number of motorcycle accidents has steadily increased. 2020 proved to be the most dangerous year yet with 5,548 motorcycle fatalities. That’s over 3,000 more than what was recorded in 1998. You would think that the great advancements in technology over the past 20 years would make the roads safer, but smartphones and other devices have only made things more dangerous. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep the roads safe. As drivers of cars, vans, trucks, and SUVs, we can take extra precautions to ensure the road stays safe for motorcyclists.
Here are a few safety tips to drive more safely around motorcycles.
CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOTS You should always check your blind spots regardless of who or what is around you, but it becomes even more important if there is a motorcycle in the vicinity. Motorcycles are much smaller than cars and can sometimes stay hidden in rearview mirrors. In order to avoid colliding with a motorcycle, you should double-check your blind spot before merging or turning. It could save someone’s life.
BE MORE CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT OR IN BAD WEATHER Most motorcyclists don’t plan to be out in the rain or snow, but sometimes it happens unexpectedly. These conditions can prove to be extremely dangerous for them and they should be given extra space. Wind can also make it more difficult to control a motorcycle. In any adverse weather, give motorcycles more room to maneuver.
In addition, if you see a motorcycle while driving at night, ensure that your high beams are turned off.
These bright lights could cause the rider to lose their vision and crash. You should also try and maintain distance if following a motorcycle at night.
BE SAFE WHILE TURNING If you have a motorcycle following you, it’s important to use your turn signals early. Even if they react quickly to a late turn signal, there’s no guarantee the car behind them won’t create a nasty accident. If you’re making a left turn, double-check for motorcycles. If they T-bone your car, it could prove fatal for them.
If you’ve never organized a game, this could be your year! To get started, Google “Scott’s Family-Friendly Touch Football” and click the first link.
It’s everyone’s responsibility to make the roads safe for all vehicles. Simple steps can go a long way when it comes to safety.
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