Motorcycle Awareness Foundation

To achieve Safe Highways, we need to always use Awareness, Respect and Education while driving

Riders Tips

Protective Gear:

Always wear the protective gear that is required: Tennessee requires a Helmet, Protective Eye Wear and Daytime Headlight. Even though it is not required by law, we encourage all motorcyclists to wear Boots, Long Pants or a Riding Suit.

Weather Conditions:

Always keep present and future weather conditions in mind. Different conditions can cause a loss of traction.

Visibility:

Always assume the other driver does not see you. Ride with your headlight on and increase visibility by changing lane positions.

Lane Position:

Always be ready to change your lane position due to road hazards, to increase your visibility and to be more visible to other motorcyclists.

Lane Sharing:

When riding together in groups, we encourage you not to share the lane this decreases your safety zone. With another rider beside you, you limit your reaction area and space to road debris and road intrusions by other vehicles.

Speed:

Avoid excessive speed when riding, this will limit reaction time and space to lane intrusions. Slow down at night and in different weather conditions when other driver’s visibility of your motorcycle is limited.

Rider Condition:

Alcoholic Beverages, Drugs and fatigue can slow down your senses and reaction time. We encourage you not to ride during these situations. If you die someone else gets your bike.

Blind Spots:

Do not hang out in the Blind Spots (No Zone Area) of larger vehicles; you are not visible in their mirrors.

Ride within your Limits:

Do not ride faster/longer then your abilities allow.

Hand Signals:

Being familiar with motorcyclist hand signals give you a better awareness of there needs and safety concerns.

1. Left Turn – Arm pointing to the left with open hand

2. Right Turn – Arm bent 90 degree up with open hand.

3. Stop – Arm held downward with open hand

4. Slow Down – arm held down ward and patting at the ground. This is used to alert fellow riders they need to slow down because of upcoming hazard.

5. Road Hazard – (Danger Signal) Arm is held down with one finger pointing in the direction of the hazard.

6. Back Off – Arm extended downward with palm facing intruding motorist, arm motion coming towards motorist. This is used to tell motorists they are following too closely.

Group Riding

When you ride in a group, your actions affect you and the other riders as well. Groups should always ride in Staggered Formation, with a minimum of 1 second riding space between you when in single file and 2 seconds between you and the rider directly in front of you when in formation. The group will need several riders to pass hand signals along from the Captain.

Captain:

Designate a leader to ride in front of the group to set the pace. This person needs to know his hand signal and have a cell phone or CB radio so they may communicate in the event of a problem with the safety person.

Safety:

Designate a safety to ride in the back of the group to monitor the group. This person will stay with the remaining group incase of separation or problems. The must have a cell phone or CB radio in order to communicate with the captain.

Methods of Leaving/Departure:

The best method is for the leader to pull out and the group follows one by one when it is safe, reorganize the group after every one is out safely. Most vehicles will stop and let the whole group go together; we encourage you not to assume the other drivers will do this. Make sure this is their intentions before proceeding. The Captain is the first motorcycle out and the safety is the last motorcycle out, all others fall in between.

Traffic Lights/Stop Signs:

Tighten the formation of the group when arriving at these intersections. Proceed when the light is green or the intentions of other vehicles at the stop sign are clear. Reorganize after everyone arrives safely on the other side of the red light/stop sign. If your group did not successfully make through the light the captain will pull over to the side of the road and wait for the rest of the group to catch up.

Intersection Turns:

When making turns at intersection everyone must maintain their own lane positions. Follow the same rule as listed for Traffic Light/Stop signs.

Curves:

When your group is approaching a turn the road captain will give the hand signal for single file. All motorcycle will form a single file, after the curve is executed return to staggered formation.

Change of Speed:

The Road Captain will advise the group of increasing or decreasing speed through hand signals, it is important for each rider to pass the signals down the group.

Changing Lanes:

The Safety will pull out in the other lane to allow the group to come over safely when it is needed to change lanes. The Road Captain will get the group passed the road hazard before giving the hand signal for the group to move back over. Please wait until your safety and captain give the signal before changing lanes or passing.

Parking:

The Captain will pull in and locate a parking space large enough for the group, if not parking space is available park as you can.

Drivers Tips

Lane positions:

Motorcycles are entitled to the same full lane as other vehicles. Do not share the lane with a motorcycle. Motorcyclists need the entire lane to avoid road surface hazards, other vehicles, to maximize their view, pedestrians or potential intrusions into their right of way. You should never hold a motorcycle beside large vehicles; motorcycles are small and cannot be seen through the mirrors of large vehicles.

Lane Changes:

Always give the motorcyclist the entire lane. Make sure you see them in your mirror or turn your head and check your blind spots before returning to the lane.

Red Lights:

Always look twice for oncoming motorcycles, motorcycles are harder to see and can blend in with the surroundings. Look Twice Both Ways before proceeding.

Intersections:

Intersections are the most likely and frequent place for a motorcycle crash to occur. We can be hard to see in tree lined roads and shadows. Yo should never assume a motorcyclists intention since motorcycle turn signals do not work the same as other motor vehicles. Always wait for the motorcyclists intentions to be clear before proceeding through an intersection.

Visibility:

In many accidents involving motorcycle and another vehicle, drivers claim they “didn’t see” the motorcycle, or didn’t see it until it was too late. Drivers should expect to see motorcycles and search for them more aggressively. A motorcycle can be easily hidden behind a car or truck in traffic.

Following Distance:

Allow a 2 second following distance between you and any vehicle, but when following a motorcycle it is safer to practice a 4 second following distance. Don’t tailgate this makes a rider nervous and an inexperienced rider could lead to a crash. Always dim your head lights when following all vehicles especially motorcycles.

Weather Hazards:

Bad weather poses a special threat to motorcyclists, give them plenty of space. These conditions interfere with the motorcycles traction. Motorcycle can be seen in all types of weather, you should always watch closely for motorcycles.

Staggered Formation:

Why do motorcyclists ride in staggered formation?

Safety is the number one reason. This allows the motorcycles to use the entire lane to avoid debris and intrusions into his lane without affecting the other riders; by allowing them to move into single file for to avoid accidents. Never move into a group of motorcycles riding in staggered formation, this will impede their safety and possibly yours.