The month of May brings many things. The weather in most parts of Canada begins to warm up. People can start heading back to local cottage areas and start opening up their cottages for the warmer spring and summer months leading to the fall.
It is also time where many riders begin taking their motorcycles out from their winter slumber / hibernation, so to speak, doing some repairs, adjustments, tuning, cleaning their respective ride and hitting the roadways.
For the winter in most of Canada, motorcycles have been absent, but generally just before May and certainly in May, the riding season begins. With that, it can certainly bring its risks. Especially for motorcycle riders with limited experience.
We’ve taken some riding and awareness tips from our The Rolling Barrage – Policing Escort support from the RCMP/GRC to amplify their concerns. Accidents do happen and it can involve not only police but fire departments and EMS services, depending on the severity.
RCMP/GRC
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and as the riding season begins, RCMP reminds all that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Please be mindful of the increased presence of motorcycles on our roadways.
For increased safety, motorcycle operators should incorporate the following:
- Obey the speed limit
- Driver sober and well-rested
- Check, and double check, blind spots before changing lanes
- Ride within your ability and skill level, and ride with others
- Wear approved helmets
- Consider wearing high visibility and/or protective clothing
All other motorists who share the roadway should:
- Keep your eyes on the road – don’t drive while distracted or fatigued
- Check, and double check, blind spots and mirrors, remembering that motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles
- Give motorcycles space on the roadway – increase your following distance
Let’s all enjoy the beautiful outdoors!
The Rolling Barrage is an annual event held in August that goes from coast to coast with hundreds of riders participating across the country. We fully support our policing and first responders in their efforts to raise Motorcycle Safety and Awareness not only in May but all the time and especially during The Rolling Barrage in August. Our support from First Responders grows every year and we greatly appreciate that support. Any way we can help our first responder community raise awareness to their concerns, we support fully.
While the general public are impressed with the lights, sirens and support given to us by our safety escort partners the real purpose of our partnership is Safety without question.
In closing, you can help. Share this post either by copying the link address in your browser or share directly with friends and family from The Rolling Barrage – Facebook page.
Thank you, and remember, “Look Twice, Save a Life.”
The Rolling Barrage PTSD Foundation / The Rolling Barrage
Board of Directors and Executive