Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program (MSAP) PDF

# Sharing the Road ## MSAP - North Carolina Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program - A Guide for Motorists and Motorcyclists ## Potholes, railroad crossings, and sand can be major hazards for motorcyclists. - Drivers need to be ready for sudden changes in position and speed by motorcyclists. - Fo...

# Sharing the Road ## MSAP - North Carolina Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program - A Guide for Motorists and Motorcyclists ## Potholes, railroad crossings, and sand can be major hazards for motorcyclists. - Drivers need to be ready for sudden changes in position and speed by motorcyclists. - Follow at a safe distance and be aware that motorcycles use all of their lane and sometimes change lanes to avoid surface hazards and increase their visibility. - Motorcyclists may slow down or swerve around potholes or debris in the road. - Many riders will slow down and try to approach railroad crossings at a 90-degree angle. - Patches of sand, gravel, and oil are everywhere, and riders are constantly changing speed and position to reduce the risk of losing traction. ## Riders need to be constantly alert for road hazards. - Look far ahead (four to twelve seconds) to allow extra time and space to react. - Your best defense against any sort of hazard is to be nowhere near it. - This includes changing position, changing lanes, or even changing your route. - By scanning and avoiding hazards well in advance, you also help other drivers identify potential problems. - Remember to flash your brake light before slowing or stopping. - Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and be ready for things like tire treads, mufflers, and animals which can suddenly appear in your path. - Cars and trucks can sometimes kick these things into the air, creating additional hazards. ## Weather Hazards - Bad weather poses a special threat to motorcyclists, so give them plenty of space, especially at night. - The road becomes extremely slippery during the first several minutes of a rainstorm, and many riders pull off the road to wait this part out. - Not only does rain, snow, and wind affect stability and traction, it can also interfere with a rider's concentration. - Signal your intentions well in advance and pay close attention to traffic flow. ## Riding in fog, rain, or snow is very risky and demands extreme caution. Vision is a rider's best source of information, and bad weather can make it useless. - (If you can't see a hazard, you can't take steps to avoid it.) - Wet roads only have half as much traction as dry roads. - If travel in these conditions is necessary, reduce your speed and increase your following distance. - Signal your intentions early, and brake and accelerate gradually. - Remember that you will be almost invisible to other drivers. ## Lane Use - Motorcycles are entitled to the same full lane as other vehicles. - While it is legal for motorcycles to ride side-by-side, it is illegal for any other vehicle to share a lane with a motorcycle. - Be aware that riders will change position within their lane to see and be seen, avoid surface hazards, and to prepare for a turn. - Car drivers must never move into the same lane alongside a motorcycle. - While it is legal for motorcyclists to ride side-by-side, it is not advisable. - Not only does it reduce your space cushion and limit your escape routes, it may suggest to other motorists that it is legal for them to share a lane with a motorcycle. - When traveling with other motorcyclists, it is best to ride in a staggered formation, using both sides of the lane. - When riding in a large group, leave gaps in the formation to allow other vehicles to pass or exit the freeway. ## For more information about this program or to learn to be a MSAP Instructor, please contact: - Angela Norris - 9108403848 ## A special thank you to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for allowing North Carolina to use the contents of this brochure. ## Concerned Bikers Association/Abate of North Carolina - www.cba-abatenc.org