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Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, Calif. — May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, reminds drivers to check twice for motorcycles.

Motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than vehicle occupants. In 2019, there were 474 motorcycle deaths on California roads.

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

• Always check twice for motorcycles, looking at all mirrors and blind spots
• Motorcycle riders have the same rights to the road as other vehicles. Allow motorcycles to always use the full width of a lane
• Never follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance
• If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful. The rider may have forgotten to turn the signal off. Be sure that the rider is turning before proceeding

Motorcyclists

• Always wear a DOT compliant helmet. Learn how to identify a safe helmet that fits on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website
• Wear appropriate gear like leather clothing, boots with nonskid soles and gloves. Consider adding reflective tape to your clothing to make it easier for other drivers to see you
• Ride defensively. Don’t assume a driver can see you. Try staying out of a driver’s blind spot
• Always keep your lights on, even during the day
• Signal well in advance before changing lanes and watch for turning vehicles

Lastly, both drivers and riders should never drive/ride under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.