IRVINE, Calif., June 12, 2009 – An estimated one million Americans will join in the 18th annual Ride to Work Day on Monday, June 15, and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is asking two-wheel and four-wheel motorists to follow these rules of the road.

DRIVERS:
Please Look for Motorcyclists – Use your eyes and mirrors to see what’s
around.
Focus on Driving – Hang up and drive, put down the food, the pet, the personal grooming gear, the CD, and the reading material and save it for later.
Use Your Turn Signals – Signal your intentions. It's also the law.
Give Two-Wheelers Some Room – Don't tailgate or get too close side-by-side.
Keep it in the Car – Don’t throw trash and cigarettes out the window, and securely lash down cargo that can fall out on the road and be a deadly hazard.

RIDERS:
Get Trained and Licensed – Take an MSF RiderCourseSM and obtain the appropriate motorcycle license endorsement from your state.
Wear Protective Gear – Wear proper protective riding gear, most importantly a helmet certified by the manufacturer to meet Department of Transportation standards.
Don’t Drink and Ride – Ride unimpaired, never drink or use other drugs before getting on a motorcycle.
Ride Within Your Limits – Stay within your personal limits, never ride faster or farther than your abilities can handle.
Be a Lifelong Learner – Return regularly for refresher riding courses.

“Going beyond the information in our news releases and on our Web pages, we also appreciate motorcyclists who volunteer their time to spread safety messages in their communities,” said MSF President Tim Buche. “Novice and experienced car drivers need to hear first-hand that careless or impaired driving threatens the safety of motorcyclists and other vulnerable roadway users.”

The staff of the MSF also suggests that experienced motorcyclists, who are comfortable carrying a passenger, take someone on their first ride in the coming months – a brief, gentle ride where there’s little traffic. Both the rider and passenger should wear full safety gear, including DOT-compliant helmets. 

“We understand that not everyone wants to be, or even should be, a motorcyclist,” Buche said. “However, people who don’t yet ride can get a sense of the magic of motorcycling by being a passenger on a motorcycle piloted by an experienced rider. They may better appreciate the challenges of safely navigating public roads on two wheels and benefit from a new awareness of motorcycles while driving their cars. This is important because since, in a typical car and bike crash, it’s the car driver who violated the motorcyclist’s right-of-way.” 

Since 1973, the MSF has set internationally recognized standards that promote the safety of motorcyclists with rider education courses, operator licensing tests, and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders may enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, BRP, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha.  For RiderCourseSM locations, call (800) 446-9227 or visit www.msf-usa.org.  Non-motorcyclists are encouraged to visit www.forcardrivers.com.

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