If you live in the Mid-Atlantic region, you may have noticed that today was a nice day. A bunch of people with motorcycles did too. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, riding season is here, or will be soon.
Every year, about April or May, right around the corner, I read in the Times-Dispatch (my local newspaper) about a number of of dudes (no, I've never read this about a female that I recall) that die out on a motorcycle ride.
If you are in a car, and think "I did not see him" will work, I encourage you to slow down mentally, take your time, look for motorcycles, know what you see, and simply keep your distance. On the outside, it will cost you 30 seconds if all goes well. Any attorney will tell you that "I did not see him" is an ineffective defense for manslaughter.
If you are one of the few that actually rides a motorcycle, as I expect everyone on this Internet forum to be, make sure that thing is in good shape, and you remember how to ride it, how it feels and responds. Stay away from cars, and don't be a jackass: Jackasses die. Do not drink and ride that motorcycle, because drunk riders die more often than jackasses.
If you see someone who you think may be slightly inebriated, discourage them from driving a car or motorcycle year round. Like many old SOBs, I try to read the paper every day. I will wager anything, from late March to late May, I will see at least half a dozen people die in central VA due to simply preventable motorcycle accidents. No need. Don't do it.
