May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It's definitely needed, as motorcycle fatalities nationwide were up 10 percent in 2015 as compared to 2014. The Governors Highway Safety Association estimates the final total to be 5,010, only the third time in history the death toll has topped 5,000. In 2014 the toll was 4,548.
In Tennessee, motorcycle deaths were up by three in 2015, totaling 123.
If you ride, State Farm wants you to have fun - safely:
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Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet, even when not required by state law.
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Wear bright-colored clothing to make it easier to be seen by other drivers.
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Never ride impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
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Obey posted speed limits.
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When purchasing a new motorcycle, opt for a model with anti-lock brakes, which have been shown to decrease fatal motorcycle crashes by preventing a motorcycle's wheels from locking during braking and assisting with maintaining the stability of the motorcycle.
Drivers of other motor vehicles should always be aware and looking out for motorcyclists around them and, of course, obey all traffic laws.
