LEARN TO SHARE THE ROAD WITH SCOOTERS Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) Director Bob Dallas “led the pack” in a very special convoy to the Capitol this Thursday as part of Georgia’s annual Scooter Commuter Day campaign. There on the steps of the Gold Dome, GOHS Director Dallas joined about a hundred scooter enthusiasts for this day dedicated to increasing local awareness for scooter safety and alternative transportation.
2010 marks the third year GOHS has sponsored this eye-catching scooter safety rally at the Capitol. Although motorcycle and scooter sales and registrations have recently dipped in this state, the good news is that motorcycle fatalities are also down in Georgia.
“The scooter community and their passenger vehicle peers have heard the ‘Share the Road’ safety message,” says Director Dallas. “There are actually 900,000 more motorcycles on the road this year, yet motorcycle deaths are down. Scooters are becoming a safer transportation alternative thanks to the attentiveness of ALL drivers.”
As volatile gas prices continue on their erratic track, it’s very predictable that Atlantans will continue to search for more economical ways to cope with uncertain fuel costs, longer commuter times, and environmental considerations.
“For a growing number of Georgians, especially those living in our metropolitan areas, the two-wheeled alternative is the simple solution to our traffic woes,” says Director Dallas. “That’s why we want to caution all drivers to learn to share their lanes with these trendy commuters wherever they encounter them.”
It’s every driver’s job to pay attention and Share The Road. It’s a fact that motorcycles and motorscooters, though fun and economical, are also the most hazardous passenger vehicles on the highway because they’re capable of high speeds but offer minimal occupant protection. While there are no separate break-out crash-stats for motorscooters, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash. That’s what makes it all the more important for Georgia drivers to remember this Scooter Commuter Day.
