Motorists are being reminded of their responsibility to help keep Florida’s roads safe as part of a new campaign.
To coincide with May’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is teaming up with transportation and law enforcement organizations across the state for the ‘Share the Road’ campaign to remind motorists of their responsibility to share the road properly with vulnerable road users.
“On average last year, there were nearly 280 crashes per week involving a motorcycle or bicycle in Florida, which truly underscores the importance of staying vigilant for all road users,” said FLHSMV Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes.
“While their mode of transportation may differ from a typical vehicle, motorcyclists and bicyclists still have the right to share our roadways and the right to make it to their destination safely.”
By law, drivers must give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance when driving alongside or passing them. Divers should never attempt to share the lane with a motorcycle – the motorcyclist is entitled to the entire lane. Preliminary in 2020, there were 8,583 motorcycle crashes and 6,013 bicycle crashes in Florida resulting in 2,687 serious bodily injuries and 668 fatalities.
