Everyone recommends wearing a helmet. If a Texan prefers not to wear a helmet and let their freak flag fly (i.e. bald spot and Ben Franklin ponytail), the must meet the following requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must be covered by an applicable health insurance plan.
• Must have completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course.

Formerly a Texas motorcyclist was required to be covered with a minimum of $10,000 in health insurance if they would like to be exempt from an offense of operating or riding a motorcycle without a helmet. These rules were overruled on September 1, 2009 and repealed the helmet exemption sticker program.

Children under age 5 are prohibited from riding on a motorcycle, period! There is one exception, though, kids under 5 may ride in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle. Kids under 1 year of age must be in a car seat, facing backwards (I just made that up…who on Earth would take an infant on a motorcycle ride? Unless, of course, they won’t stop fussing.

So, it boggles the mind as to why is it that many motorcyclists don’t wear a helmet (I noticed that most bicyclists do). And critics of motorcycle helmet rights say that the costs saved by wearing helmets are never actually passed down to consumers. Although it is estimated from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) $3 billion in costs were saved as a result of helmet use in the U.S. And another 1.4 billion could have been saved if all motorcyclists were wearing helmets.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Bicycle Helmet and Motorcycle Helmet

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So, what about the other 11 months of the year? Do we forget, in between? Not if we have friends and family that ride a motorcycle, we don’t. So, although speeding and zipping between cars are two of the biggest contributors to motorcycle accidents, there are some things riders have no control over. There’s no protective exterior, like a car has. 4,500 motorcyclists died in 2014. That number is staggering.
There are a few things a motorcyclist can do to protect themselves, besides constantly scanning around them and being aware of their surroundings. Wearing protective gear, such as Kevlar has proven to be a huge factor in saving lives (and skin). Kevlar is a synthetic fiber of high tensile strength used especially as a reinforcing agent in the manufacture of tires and other rubber products and protective gear such as helmets and vests. Use of a Department of Public Safety compliant protective helmet is also super important. Over 60% of riders don’t wear a helmet at all. And, a full face helmet is even better, if you want to save face.

So, look twice for motorcycles and share the road. Motorcyclists have the same rights when driving on the road, and they have families just like the rest of us.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Motorcycle Safety Awareness – Comedy Defensive Driving

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I grew up with motorcycles. When I was a kid, my Dad’s Harley was our alarm clock. He’d be getting home from the pub around the time we needed to get ready for school. He’d pull into the garage and rev it up before he shut it down. It would shake the entire house. In Texas, there is no maximum sound level law in place. In fact, a lot of bikers who don’t own a Harley Davidson motorcycle have put loud muffler packages on their bikes so people will at least hear them, even if they can’t see them. Sometimes Dad would take us for a ride on his bike. We’d ride on the fuel tank. Thank goodness we’ve evolved since then! Now, passenger age restrictions on a motorcycle indicate that anyone under 5 must ride in a sidecar, facing backwards (just kidding about the facing backwards part).

Rider education is required if you are under the age of 18, and required if you are over 21 and choose not to wear a helmet. Or, your option there would be to have proof that you hold insurance covering injuries that result from a motorcycle accident. Again, thank goodness we’ve evolved.

A few other laws in Texas and most other states are that you have to have your headlights on during the day and you must have at least one side mirror. That’s also helps you to see who is running you off the road. Because people in cars just don’t pay attention. Texting, talking, fiddling with stuff in the car while they are driving. There are unlimited distractions in the car. And, with more motorcycles on the road now, that’s a lethal combination.

So, look twice for motorcycles. And share the road. Remember, those motorcyclists have families, like the rest of us. Some even have wives and kids. Well, that would be Utah. I meant a wife (singular) and kids.

Until next week….

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Learn How To Share The Road With Motorcycles – Comedy Defensive Driving

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With road construction, lane closures, ramp closures and especially H.O.V. closures, I truly hope that people will refrain from drinking and driving and be extra cautious when riding near a motorcyclist. It is known that motorcyclists can ride on the H.O.V. lane without a passenger. The H.O.V. is, in fact, the safest place for them to ride, rather than on the freeway, around distracted or drunk drivers. But some of the major H.O.V.’s in this area are closed and under construction. And the ones that remain open are on freeways so riddled with traffic that automobile operators cross illegally across the double line or slip between the pvc posts to enter the H.O.V. to avoid traffic. This could be lethal to a motorcyclist if they are not seen.
Although May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, why not always practice caution when riding near a motorcyclist? In Texas, if you cut off a motorcyclist and they crash, you could ensue a $500 fine. I personally believe if the fine were more, people would really pay attention. And, if the crash results in serious bodily injury or death, the fine is upward of $5000 (plus you get the pants sued off of you).

So, look twice for motorcycles and share the road. Of course, we all know that there are also motorcyclists out there ‘hot-doggin’ and whipping in and out of traffic, popping wheelies and passing you at 120 miles per hour. Another reason for we drivers to really be paying attention. Perhaps we can’t always feel so responsible for those people who intentionally put their lives in danger. But there are still those out there that have purchased a motorcycle to save on their commute expenses. And remember, those people have a family. And some of them have wives and kids (oops…that would be in Utah…I meant a wife (singular) and kids.

Until next week…be safe.

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Look Twice For Motorcycles – Comedy Defensive Driving

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