{"id":547,"date":"2016-05-31T08:46:35","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T12:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/?p=547"},"modified":"2016-05-31T08:46:35","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T12:46:35","slug":"sudbury-police-remind-motorcyclists-drivers-to-share-the-road","status":"public-archive","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/2016\/05\/31\/sudbury-police-remind-motorcyclists-drivers-to-share-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Sudbury Police Remind Motorcyclists, Drivers to Share the Road"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>SUDBURY &#8212; Chief Scott Nix and the Sudbury Police Department are providing safety tips for drivers and motorcyclists as we approach the summer months.<\/p>\n<p>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, in 2013,&nbsp;there were 4,668 motorcyclists killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and an estimated 88,000 who were injured.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As the weather warms up, we are expecting to see more and more motorcycles on the road,&#8221; Chief Nix said. &#8220;Drivers and motorcyclists should be aware of each other and take all precautions to avoid collisions or accidents.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>To prevent accidents and fatalities, Chief Nix recommends that drivers and motorcyclists follow several safety tips outlined by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.<\/p>\n<h3>Advice to Drivers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Motorcycles are more difficult to spot than cars because of their smaller profiles and drivers are conditioned to look for other cars, not motorcyclists.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Traffic, weather, and road conditions require motorcyclists to react differently than drivers, so it is often difficult to judge and predict when riders may take evasive action.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Drivers must always be aware of their surroundings. Remember: Check twice, save a life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Remember that motorcyclists have the same privileges as other drivers. Be sure to give riders a full lane of travel, and always keep a close watch for motorcyclists &#8212; especially at intersections and on highways.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Anticipate a motorcyclist&#8217;s maneuvers. A piece of road debris that poses no threat to a car may be deadly for a motorcyclist. Predict evasive moves a motorcyclist might take by always being aware of your surroundings. Also, don&#8217;t follow motorcycles too closely. Allow enough room for the motorcyclist to take evasive actions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You are more likely to be involved in an accident with a motorcycle when:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">You are making a left turn in front of a rider.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">A motorcyclist is riding in your blind spot.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">There are hazardous road conditions. Potholes, wet leaves, railroad tracks, and other obstructions may force a motorcyclist to take an action you don&#8217;t expect.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">You have an obstructed line of sight. Sport utility vehicles, delivery vans, and large trucks may block motorcyclists from your view.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Advice to Riders<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Don&#8217;t assume you are visible to a driver. As a motorcyclist, it is your responsibility to make your presence known to drivers. Select and wear an appropriate helmet with retroreflective materials. A motorcycle helmet is your most valuable piece of protective gear and should be visible to drivers. Wear bright, contrasting protective clothing. If you wear dark clothing, wear a fluorescent vest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Use headlights while riding on the highway, and use high beams instead of low beams. Also consider a modulating headlight.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Proper lane position is important. It helps drivers see you and protects your riding space. Remember, if you can see a driver in the side-view mirror, the driver can see you. Avoid riding in a driver&#8217;s blind spot, and always signal before making a move. Never weave between lanes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"marginB5\">Remember, there is no one safe place to ride. Use lane positioning to be seen and to provide extra space for emergency braking situations or avoidance maneuvers. Never share a lane with a car. Drivers may not expect you alongside their cars and may not be aware of your presence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chief Scott Nix and the Sudbury Police Department are providing safety tips for drivers and motorcyclists as we approach the summer months. <a href=\"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/2016\/05\/31\/sudbury-police-remind-motorcyclists-drivers-to-share-the-road\/\" aria-label=\"Read full article about Sudbury Police Remind Motorcyclists, Drivers to Share the Road\">Read full article<span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1,6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=547"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":549,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547\/revisions\/549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudbury.ma.us\/police\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}