This month alone, we’ve had two motorcycle fatalities in Hanover and another fatality out-of-county involving a Mayville resident.

Every case was different. The first one a driver was charged with failure to yield the right of way at a stop sign. In the second case, one car struck another vehicle, which caused that vehicle to collide with a motorcyclist. In the third fatality, the driver, Joshua D. Huntress, was allegedly driving while ability impaired from drugs when he hit two motorcycles, both with passengers.

Motorcycles are a popular ride in the summer. Unfortunately, when it comes to an accident, those on the bike are much more vulnerable.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2015 motorcyclists were 29 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash and almost five times more likely to be injured.

For motorcyclists, here are some tips to keep in mind:

¯ Wear appropriate gear. Dress for the “slide” than just the “ride.” Wear long pants, leather jackets, and helmets.

¯ Follow traffic rules;

¯ Ride defensively;

¯ Keep your riding skills honed through education;

¯ Be awake and ride sober;

¯ Go over your bike to make sure it’s road ready. Check the tire pressure, headlight, taillight, and signals.

For automobile drivers, here are some tips to keep in mind:

¯ There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t recognize a motorcycle. Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.

¯ Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is.

¯ A motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc.).

¯ Because of its small size, a motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is.

¯ Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

¯ Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can’t always stop “on a dime.”

¯ When a motorcycle is in motion, don’t think of it as a motorcycle; think of it as a person.

Following tips like these can help motorcyclists safe.