Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Begins May 1

Now that spring has arrived, there is a lot less ice and a lot more motorcycles on the road, posing a new set of safety issues.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month begins May 1, and bikers across Idaho are doing everything they can to get the message out there.

Whether you’re into Harleys, scooters, or something a little more sporty, a biker?s passion runs deep.

“Our first date was on a Goldwing,” Cinda Hammond remembered of her husband.

Still, not all memories from the road are fond.

“I have many friends that have died on motorcycles,? Hammond said, which is why she has been organizing the Motorcycle Awareness Rally in Idaho Falls for 10 straight years.

“If I could stop one death, then all of this rally — it benefits all of us,” Hammond said.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the amount of deadly motorcycle crashes doubled between 2000 and 2010. Hammond said both the driver and the biker could be at fault.

“The biggest thing you hear when there’s an accident is, ‘Where’d they come from? I didn’t see them,'” she said.

The strongest words of advice for drivers is to simply be aware.

“Take your time, look around, look for what is out there,” Hammond said.

As for bikers, Hammond recommends wearing brightly colored clothes and protective gear, and plenty of practice.

“It doesn’t hurt to brush up on your skills because it’s your life you’re going to save,” Hammond said.

The Motorcycle Awareness Rally is Saturday, May 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Rocky Mountain Middle School in Idaho Falls.