Author: Michael Theodore

Georgia

The Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program, housed within the state Department of Driver Services, has received a grant for more than $84,000 from the Governor’s office of highway safety for efforts to reduce the number of motorcycles fatalities in the state. The GMSP promotes state and national safety initiatives through its outreach coordinator,who researches, and helps maintain a voice at industry events, local schools and colleges, regional meetings, festivals and other public events. The program also regulates motorcycle training for new riders and experienced riders.

Washington

The Pierce County Council passed an ordinance in November allowing ATV’s to operate on several roadways to encourage tourism, bring economic benefit to the community and improve recreational opportunities for county residents. The sheriff planned to launch an educational program about the change, which becomes effective on Jan 1, 2019

Michael Theodore National Road Captain

Ohio
The state Senate passed legislation aimed at decreasing driving by imposing up to a $100 fine on offenders in addition to the standard fine established for the moving violation they are cited for. H.B 95 makes distracted driving a secondary offense. Drivers must be pulled over first for a moving violation before they can be cited for the offense. Under the bill,distractions include, but are not limited to,texting,reading,using tablet or smart phone features or applying cosmetics. In lieu of paying the additional fine, offenders may choose to complete a distracted driving safety course.

Ohio
Motorcycle Ohio, the state’s rider training program, has become part of the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The agency previously was part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Official’s said the program will continue with “business as usual”.

Hawaii
There is a new bill to allow motorcyclist to ride on the shoulders of the road became law without the signature of the Governor. Who initially vowed to veto it. In Hawaii, a bill that passes the Legislature, but goes unsigned by the governor or is not vetoed becomes law. The state Department of Transportation will determine the areas in which motorcyclist may use the shoulders to navigate around slowed or stopped traffic. The zones designated for shoulder riding must have at least two lanes in each direction and have shoulders that allow safe passing.

New Jersey
S.1400 was introduced which would allow the operator of a motorcycle. motorized bicycle or bicycle to proceed through an intersection on a malfunctioning steady red light if the operator comes to a full and complete stop at the intersection for two complete cycles or for two minutes, whichever is shorter. The rider would then treat the signal as a stop sign.

Texas
The state’s Sunset Commission is considering a transfer of the motorcycle safety program from the department of Public Safety to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, saying it is a “more appropriate, non-law-enforcement agency”. The commission “found the motorcycle safety training and driver license programs have not been administered well at DPS.”

Michael Theodore                                                                                                                      National Road Captain

Using rotating wheels to determine if a driver is about to roll.

Will this car pull out in front of you? Watching for the front wheel to begin rolling is a more reliable predictor than making eye contact with the driver.

For Those Of Us On Two Wheels, The most likely clash with another vehicle pulling into our lane from a side road, parking lot or driveway. How can we know if the driver will hit the gas and shoot point blank into our immediate path of travel? When it comes to that anxious driver poised to pull out from our right or left, is there a way to detect the driver’s intent?
If there’s a wheel there is a way. Determining if a vehicle is beginning to move forward is most practical if we look to the car’s front wheel. Our brain has a much easier time detecting even the subtlest wheel rotation than it does trying to discern if the mass of the vehicle itself is moving slightly from right to left (or vice versa). When you see the wheel on the vehicle beginning to rotate counterclockwise? Be ready; the vehicle is about to enter your lane and space!
But what about eye contact? Even if a driver appears to be looking directly at you, he or she may be looking beyond, never even noticing you. And, even if the driver does see you, they could easily misinterpret the distance and speed at which you are approaching, believing that you are farther away than you are.
Always anticipate the move. Even if you are confident that a driver will not pull out, be ready when they do. The way to do this is by managing your speed. Ask yourself if you could smoothly and safely stop your motorcycle to avoid contact if that driver began to pull out. I always tell myself that driver does not see me so I am already taking defense measures when approaching this type situation. Looking and anticipating while still carrying excessive speed takes away your options and limits your space and time you have to work with should the driver enter the lane ahead of you. And He or she wheel. I mean they will.
Keep the contact patch between the lines

Michael Theodore
National Road Captain