Okay groovie guys and groovie gals,
Here is the information I sent to the reporter this morning. Hopefully it will be used to produce a good article. I'll post the article when it is printed, hopefully Sunday. Thanks for all your input. I used almost everything trying not to be redundant. ...................................
Rick, Thank you and the H-C for doing a story about motorcycle safety.
Below you will find:
1- comments from the web forums we spoke of in our phone conversation.
2- a copy of MSF Quick Tips which are excellent.
3- three additional links to MSF website: One which is the link to Quick Tips from #2, and
secondly, two videos which are very informative and should assist you in information gathering
*Number two is probably the best and most concise of these three pieces of information. Although
they don’t say as much as needed about "distracted driving" (cell phone use/ texting)
Use this information for your story. Please feel free to contact me for questions or discussion of these
topics. If need be, I would be willing to share my personal story of a vehicle involved crash.
#1 Comments for motorcycle forums:
A. "look twice before making a left turn and put the freakin' cell phone down".
B. "Motorcycles do not stop better than cars, so stop pulling out in front of them just
because you feel safe about it - and because the last nine stopped in time"!
C. "put the phone down"!!!!!!
D. "When the transmission's in gear, keep the phone out of your ear."
E. "Look Twice For Motorcycles ... We Are Entitled To a Whole Lane ...
Don't Crowd Us Over... Don't Cut Back Into The Lane In Front Of Us, Then Stop...
THERE ARE NO FREE LANE CHANGES ... A TURN SIGNAL IS REQUIRED EVERY TIME..."
F. "LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER WHEN CHANGING LANES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
DO NOT HAVE BLIND SIDE MIRRORS"
G. "I'd like to see the cars keeping off my back bumper ... Other than the usual stuff like
not paying attention I really dislike seeing in the mirrors some car closer than need be ....
even when not at a stop light.
H. "Look Twice. Share the Road. Save a Life."
I. "Another is promotion of a motorcycle counting game. The rationale for this is that like
the old Slug Bug or license plate games that got folks use to looking for those things.
The motorcycle counting game will get them use to looking for motorcycles."
J. "Look For Motorcyclists -- Use your eyes and mirrors to see what's around, and check
the blind spots when you're changing lanes or turning at intersections. Look, and look again."
K. "Focus on Driving -- Hang up the phone, put down the MP3 player, settle the passengers, and drive.
L. "Give Two-Wheelers Some Room -- Don't tailgate or pass too closely."
M. "Take Your Time -- Nothing is as important as the safety of your loved ones, yourself, and the
others with whom you share the road.
O. All these principles can be boiled down to this paraphrase of the Golden Rule:
Drive near others as you would have others drive near you.
#2. Top Ten Tips from MSF ...
http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/motorist_awareness_tips.pdf
QUICK TIPS: Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles
1. Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. Most of the time, the car or truck driver, not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don't "recognize" a motorcycle - they ignore it (usually unintentionally).
2. Because of its narrow profile, 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). Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you're changing lanes or turning at intersections.
3. Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle's speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
4. 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.
5. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle's signal is for real.
7. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle's better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don't expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
8. 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 you can't always stop "on a dime."
9. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle - see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.
10. If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.
www.msf-usa.org
#3. It time permits see these links also .....
A. Top Ten Tips from MSF ...
http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/motorist_awareness_tips.pdf
B. The MSF has a website for Drivers ... it's at
http://www.forcardrivers.com/index.html.
C. If you only see one see this one .......... "Common Road"
http://www.forcardrivers.com/video.html
Again, thank you Rick and H-C for doing a story on Motorcycle Safety
Reporter will contact me,? Hopefully. 
