If You Live To Ride,
Ride Safely.
Rider Safety
If you ride a motorcycle in the Bluegrass State, you already know how great it is to feel the open air on our beautiful Kentucky highways. But motorcycling can be dangerous. Ride Safe, Kentucky.
1,575
crashes involved a motorcycle in Kentucky last year.
751
of all motorcycle-related crashes involved only the motorcycle.
37%
Helmets are 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders.
Tips for motorcyclists:
- Wear a DOT-compliant helmet.
- Use turn signals for every turn or lane change, and combine with hand signals.
- Wear brightly colored protective gear and use reflective tape and stickers to increase visibility.
- Position in the lane where most visible to other drivers.
- Pay attention by avoiding any action that takes your eyes, your ears or your mind off the road and traffic.
- Obey the speed limit. Driving at the posted limit allows you to see, identify and react to possible obstacles.
- Ride sober. Alcohol and/or drugs can impair your judgment, coordination and reaction time.
- Take a rider training course. Find information at www.ride.ky.gov.
Share the Road
Motorcycles can easily be hidden in blind spots. Always keep an eye out for motorcycles.
99,000
Kentucky has more than 99,000 registered motorcycles.
824
of the motorcycle-related crashes last year in Kentucky involved a motorcycle and at least one other vehicle.
28x
Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely than people in cars to die in a traffic crash.
Tips for drivers:
- Put the phone down and pay attention. Driving while distracted increases risk for all road users.
- Perform a regular visual check by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or exiting a lane of traffic, and at intersections.
- Use a turn signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic to alert others of your intentions.
- Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle. Motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed.
- Allow at least a three-second following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Obey the speed limit. Driving at the posted limit allows you to see, identify and react to possible obstacles.
- Drive sober. Alcohol and drugs affect judgment, balance and reaction time. Always make a plan for a safe ride home.
- Buckle up. Wearing a seat belt gives you the best protection against injury and death.
