Red Hot Will Be Watchin & Ridin

Motorcycle season appeared today, as I saw my first 5 motorcycles.  There is a few select that get their bike out as soon as any sign of weather peaks out from under the snow. I learned; after my first slide through salt and road sand at age 14; to wait for the first few rains to wash away the sand and salt before hittin the road. Same applies to getting your fancy winterized car out of storage.  But that's for a whole other blog.  Bottom line, no matter what you've been storing that you don't want damaged, wait.  Let the salt and sand get washed away, for safety and for common sense.  As far as motorcycles go, just remember they are back out on the road. And, I will certainly agree, there are a few that drive like asses, and should probably be removed of their right to license their bike. But remember there are the rest of us that use what I like to call, road rules and common sense.  I practice the same respect for the road and cars around me as I would in a car. That being said, even the safest of drivers can be hard to seen. And yes, motorcycles DO get the same rights as any vehicle on the road.

Some stats; about 25 percent of all 2012 passenger vehicle crashes ended up in injury or death, but almost 80 percent of all motorcycle crashes end up in injury or death. Iowa & Illinois law does not require helmets. All states bordering us do. A rider without a helmet is 40 percent more likely to die in a crash than one with a helmet. Allow the motorcyclist a full lane width. Do not share the lane. And just a reminder, in some circumstances it's just as hard for bikes to see cars. Safe driving the spring; and look twice.  I will be.