St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety officials are reminding drivers to "share the road" with motorcyclists, and to be extra alert as summer weather finally arrives in St. Lawrence County.

“Because riders aren’t protected as they are in other vehicles, even low-speed crashes can result in death or injuries. During the past four years, 14% of New York’s motor vehicle fatalities have been motorcycle-related,” a release from the program says.

In 2016, all of the motorcycle crashes in St. Lawrence County involved moderate or serious injury. Many of the collisions with motorcycles occur when a vehicle is changing lanes or turning left, and the motorist fails to properly check for motorcycles.

“Motorists need to get into the habit of looking twice for motorcycles when entering the road or at intersections,” said Mary Davison, Information Specialist for the St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety Program. “They need to double-check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.”

“Motorcyclists have responsibilities, too,” Davison said. “They should never ride impaired, always wear protective gear, and maintain safe speeds.”

Motorcyclists have all the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle driver on the roadway. This means they are entitled to their space on the road, no matter the size of their ride. This also means that they must follow the same road laws as other vehicles, including keeping a safe distance from other vehicles.

The St. Lawrence County Traffic Safety Program offers additional tips for drivers to help keep motorcyclists safe on our roadways:

• Allow more following distance, three or four seconds, when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. And don’t tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.

• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic;

• Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle—motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed;

• Allow more following distance, three or four seconds, when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. And don’t tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.

• Never drive while distracted.

Motorcycle riders are advised to become properly licensed. By successfully completing a DMV-approved motorcycle safety course, riders can learn to drive defensively while earning a waiver on the road test portion of their New York motorcycle license. Information about these courses, which were developedby the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), can be found on the MSF web site at http://www.nysmsp.org/ or by calling 1-800-446-9227.