Promote motorcycle safety awareness

My name is Lori Lott, and I lost my son in a motorcycle accident on November 1, 2002.  The loss of my son could have been prevented, and he could have still been here to share his life and his promising future with me.  He was only 21 years old and should have had his whole life ahead of him.  I have made attempts in the last several years to try and raise the awareness of others to the fact that motorcycles share our roads and have just as much right to be there as those in cars.  I have obviously been unsuccessful in my attempts, when looking at the current statistics of motorcycle fatalities due to the acts of inattentive drivers.  I have come to the conclusion that this awareness needs to be voiced collectively so that our state officials will realize that something needs to be done in order to affect some needed changes.  I have, therefore, started the attached petition, in the hopes that you will see that I am not alone in my concerns.  With this petition comes my plea to re-evaluate our system of training new drivers, by not only making them aware of the laws of the road BEFORE licenses are issued, but also by teaching them of the dangers of the road for drivers and motorcyclists alike. They should be taught what the consequences can be, when not taking the privilege of driving seriously enough to take other people's lives into their own hands too when getting behind the wheel of a car.  In California, for example, lane splitting or sharing is perfectly legal.  Yet, how many motorists do we see making that extra effort to look for riders before changing lanes?  I would say very rarely. 

These dangers not only affect our riders, but they also affect our motorists as well.  Regardless if the reason behind a fatality is an accident or not, the person that causes the fatality or serious injury is also forever changed.  "I didn't see him" or "He was in my blind spot" should no longer be allowed as excuses for being inattentive.  Instead, we should do whatever is necessary to make sure that people don't have these excuses to lean on.  The way to do that is by EDUCATION.  Driver education classes have gone from being mandatory in-school curriculum to now just being required online or offsite courses outside of school.  I propose that we reenact this class as a required high school course, to include motorcycle safety awareness, instead of relying on online courses that can be passed strictly by going to the final test questions and just trying to make educated guesses in order to pass the test.  That is unacceptable in my opinion.

I believe that there also need to be some sort of visible signs on our freeways and city streets, as reminders that 2-wheeled vehicles share our roads.  We have signs advising of deer crossing.  We have signs telling us that Caltrans workers are present.  We have signs reminding us that children are present. Don't you agree that our motorcyclists deserve the same kind of respect and protection?  A sign as simple as MOTORCYCLES SHARE OUR ROADS - PLEASE WATCH FOR THEM might even save a life.

 I have also received several emails that I'd like to share that are worthy of your consideration:

Our hog chapter took it upon themselves to go to some area schools and teach biker awareness to the drivers education classes. Several schools found out about it and invited them to come to their school. Word got around and the state board of education asked them to come to their drivers education instructor's class to teach them how to do it. These are a hand full of volunteers, but they have made a big contribution in my opinion. I am proud to say I belong to that North Alabama chapter.

I have recently done some research on the FCC's (Federal Communications Commission) web site and from what I understand is that each TV/Radio station using the public airwaves must "serve the interests of the public" but they don't say how any more!

It seems, over the years, that the FCC has relaxed requirements for "Public Service Announcements".  I've also researched the "Ad Council" (they make PSAs) and found nothing about driving/motorcycles, etc.

What do you think about petitioning the FCC, Ad Council, HD and the MSF to get public service announcements back on the air.  Who knows, that 30-second spot shown frequently enough may help drivers to get re-acquainted with motorcycles on America's roads and perhaps reduce the number of senseless tragedies.

I'm asking that you PLEASE evaluate our options to raise our awareness.  Within this petition are many wonderful ideas that deserve your consideration and that can truly make a difference.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/739194492

Sincerely,

Lori Lott