As Denver gears up for a beautiful weekend, the roads will likely see an uptick in motorcycle activity. The Denver Police Department has reminded citizens that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, aiming to promote harmonious roadway sharing between motorcyclists and drivers. According to the Denver Police Department, the police are encouraging "all drivers to use extra caution and share the road, as more motorcyclists take to the streets in the coming months."
For drivers, the advice is clear: allow extra space for motorcycles; they can stop and turn with a nimbleness unlike the four-wheeled vehicles to which drivers are accustomed. The Denver PD's own guidelines note, motorcycles should always command the full width of a lane, their vulnerability is not an invitation to shrink their space on the asphalt. Additionally, given their smaller profile, motorcycles may be harder to spot, "so use extra caution when turning left at an intersection," as recommended by the Denver Police Department.
But the onus of safety isn't solely on the drivers of cars and trucks. Motorcyclists themselves are urged to don protective gear, abide by the set speed limits, and critically, never to ride while impaired. The stark reality punctuating this message: "Most motorcyclists who are killed in traffic crashes are not wearing helmets," as per Denver Police Department. This point underscores a tragic potential outcome when safety measures are discarded.
It's a mutual street dance of awareness, where prevention is a two-way affair. Check your mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, commands the Denver Police Department in their advisory. The use of emojis hints at a casual approach, but the underlying message is nothing short of serious. And as for the ever-pervasive smartphones that have become nearly inseparable from our hands, never drive distracted or impaired, the police department posts a no-nonsense admonition against distracted driving.
