Look twice for motorcycles

The Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety recognizes May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

The reminder to safely share the road comes as Idaho continues to see increases in motorcycle-related deaths and injuries.

In 2024, Idaho recorded 629 motorcycle crashes and 47 people were killed, an 18% increase from 2023; 86% of motorcyclists involved in crashes were injured and 35% of fatal motorcycle crashes involved an impaired rider.

“Warmer weather means more motorcyclists are out," Josephine Middleton, Highway Safety manager, said in a Friday news release. "Remember to take a second look when changing lanes or at intersections to prevent a tragedy. We’re asking drivers to slow down, check blind spots and give riders the space they need.”

For drivers:

• Look twice at intersections and before changing lanes.
• Check mirrors and blind spots carefully.
• Maintain a three- to four-second following distance.
• Never share a lane with a motorcycle.

For riders:

• Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and high-visibility gear.
• Keep lights on and avoid riding in blind spots.
• Follow traffic laws and never ride impaired. Remember both lane splitting and filtering are illegal in Idaho.
• Continue to sharpen riding skills through a training program.

Info: shift-idaho.org