More civility noted between two-wheel, four-wheel vehicles
Kyle Smith said he believes motorcyclists and car and truck drivers have become more courteous in recent years, as a growing number of motorcyclists have taken to the roads.
"I had a motorcycle back in the 1980s, then was without one for about 15 years, and bought my current bike in 2007," Smith said. "Maybe it's just because I'm more mature, but there seems to be less hostility between drivers and riders now than there was back then."
Officer Mike Grisham, motorcycle instructor with the Longview Police Department, said the number of motorcyclists has increased in recent months as a result of rising costs of gasoline.
"Motorcycles have become hugely popular, and more riders, especially more riders who are either new to motorcycles or have been away from them for several years, translates to more accidents involving these bikes," Grisham said.
Grisham agreed with Smith's assessment that there seems to be less hostility between motorcycle riders and other drivers than in years past.
"I think that riders and drivers are less likely to be two separate groups of people than they used to be," Grisham said. "A lot of people will drive a car or truck when they're going to the grocery store or taking the family to church, but that same person will ride a motorcycle when going to work or visiting a friend."
The increased visibility of motorcycles, given the extra length and lighting of many bikes nowadays, might also have contributed to the new civility, Smith said.
"The No. 1 problem for bike riders is that drivers of four-wheel vehicles so frequently just don't see us," Smith said. "With bigger bikes and more lighting, those problems are reduced. Most motorcyclists are responsible and keep their bikes in good repair. Of course, there are a few who drive like idiots, but there are drivers of cars and trucks who drive like that, too."
The most important thing motorcycle riders can do to increase courtesy and decrease wrecks between bikes and cars is to make themselves as visible as possible, he said. In addition to extra lighting, motorcycle riders should not dart in between vehicles.
The main thing he would request from drivers of larger vehicles is a bit of breathing room.
"My No. 1 fear when riding my bike is being rear-ended," Smith said. "If I would happen to lose control or have a blowout when somebody is following me too closely in a car or a truck, I'd just get run over."
Traffic laws are the same for all motorized vehicles, Grisham said, but some motorcycle riders ignore the laws, especially when it comes to parking.
"We've had some complaints from handicapped drivers that motorcyclists are more frequently parking in the striped section of handicapped parking spaces," he said. "These striped areas are part of the handicapped parking spaces, necessary for people in wheelchairs to have the room to get in and out of their vehicles. It's just as illegal for a motorcycle to park in them as it would be for a car or truck."
Lisa Black, public information officer with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the two most important things motorcycle riders can do to increase their safety on the road is to take a safe driving course and wear a helmet.
"We're expecting about a 10 percent increase this year in the number of people who take motorcycle safety courses," Black said.
The main thing drivers of other vehicles can do to increase safety for motorcyclists is simply to be aware of the increased number of riders on the road and check carefully before changing lanes or pulling into traffic, she said.
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