The Oak Ridge Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office to promote motorcycle safety during the month of May, which is nationally recognized as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Agencies participate by providing information and increasing awareness in their communities about the importance of sharing the road and looking twice for motorcyclists. In Oak Ridge, the police department’s motorcycle unit will also increase patrols throughout the month.
"Motorcyclists will be out in force as the weather gets warmer, which is why it is the perfect time for us to remind the community about the vulnerability of motorcycle riders," Oak Ridge Police Officer and THSO Network Coordinator Matthew Johnston said. "All drivers need to know how to anticipate and respond to motorcyclists to avoid crashes."
Here are a few safe driving tips to prevent crashing with a motorcycle:
According to preliminary data, there were 2,701 motorcycle crashes in Tennessee last year. Of those crashes, 166 were fatal.