Nashville Motorcycle Accident Prevention

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was directed by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to create language for the states to use in traffic safety education classes, driver’s manuals and other training materials, regarding the importance of driving safely with motorcyclists.

Motorcycles are often hard to see, especially when the other driver is not paying attention.  Motorcyclists can also be hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot.  According to the NHTSA, about 50 percent of all motorcycle accidents involve another motor vehicle.  Almost 40 percent of motorcycle crashes were the result of the other vehicle turning left in front of the motorcyclist. 

Some of the language developed by the NHTSA addresses the fact that motorcycles have the same legal rights as other vehicles on the road and that motorcyclists need to be allowed a full lane width.  The NHTSA included language that discusses using signals to alert motorcyclists to lane changes or merging traffic and allowing more following distance of three or four seconds when traveling behind a motorcycle.  The language also explains that road conditions can be major hazards for motorcyclists and that they may change speed or adjust their position within a lane as a sudden reaction.

The Share the Road language developed by the NHTSA was sent to all Governor’s Highway Safety Representatives, State Motorcycle Safety Administrators and Motor Vehicle Administrators.  It will be interesting to see if there is a reduction in Nashville motorcycle accident frequency due to the NHTSA's initiative.

Source: NHTSA - “Share the Road with Motorcycles”