Buy a Stamp & Save a Biker
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Buy a Stamp & Save a Biker - 3/17/2008 7:43:31 AM
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Whiskers
Posts: 4142
Joined: 3/7/2005
Status: offline
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I'm sending this letter to our local newspaper's editorial board today. I thought I'd post it here and encourage anyone else who might like to send this letter to their newspaper to do so. Cut and past is a wonderful tool...copy it from this message, drop it into a Word document, clean it up (add the name of your city/town), print, sign and mail. We had another bike-car accident here this weekend and I'm a little frustrated with car drivers who "didn't see the motorcycle"
Thanks - Whiskers
Date_____________
Editorial Board
Name of Newspaper
Address
Sirs or Madams’;
Increased springtime temperatures also bring an increase in the number of motorcycles on our roads. As a member of the motorcycle riding fraternity I am respectfully requesting the editorial board to remind automobile drivers that the number of motorcycles on our roadways continues to grow each year and:
Be Aware, Look Twice and Share the Road
I offer these facts from the Federal Highway Transportation Safety Administration:
· In 2005 there were 6.2 million motorcycles on U.S. roads, compared with 137.4 million passenger cars.
· Motorcycle crash fatalities have increased every year for the past nine years.
· In 2006, 4,810 motorcycle riders were killed, a 5% increase from 2005 and a 127% increase from 1997.
· Motorcyclists were 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash and 8 times more likely to be severely injured
· Motorcycle fatalities now account for over 10% of all annual fatalities, even though motorcycles make up less that 2% of all registered vehicles and only 0.4% of all vehicle miles traveled.
In examining the leading cause of auto-motorcycle accidents, 78 percent of motorcycles involved were struck in the front by another vehicle while driving straight, passing or overtaking the vehicle. In the majority these accidents, the driver of the automobile indicated that, “they did not see the motorcycle.”
Drivers should be reminded that motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway and by following these rules maybe we can avoid losing another member of the _Name of your community_ this riding season.
Look Twice before turning or changing lanes
Forty percent of auto-motorcycle accidents were caused by the other vehicle turning left in front of the motorcyclist.
Motorcycles have a much smaller profile than vehicles and are much more difficult to see.
Motorcycles are often hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot or missed in a quick look so always make a second visual check for motorcycles before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
Minimize or avoid distractions such as cell phones or conversations and concentrate on the road.
I hope this letter finds favor with the board and again, I am respectfully requesting its delivery to the greater community: Be Aware, Look Twice, and Share the Road.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name
_____________________________
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Printable Version
) and re-wrote the letter (taking all references to HDF out) and gave it a more personal twist. 
