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## MOTORCYCLISTS 

As a driver, you share the road with a lot of other motorists – not all of which are driving cars or trucks. Motorcycles are common on New York roads. As a driver, you are responsible to be aware of motorcycles and understand how to safely share the road with them. 

Motorcycles (which include scooters and mo- peds) come in a variety of shapes and sizes. New York State Law defines a motorcycle as “Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.” Most motorcycles you’ll see have either two or three wheels. Examples include (but are not limited to): 

Motorcyclists have the same rights and respon- sibilities as drivers of other vehicles, and must follow the same traffic laws. However, motorcy- clists, like pedestrians, bicyclists and skaters, are less visible to drivers. Though you may often see motorcycles on the roads in the spring, summer, or fall – you can encounter motorcycles anytime and anywhere. Because we don’t see them all year, we may not actively think about them. 

When there is a crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, the rider (and passenger) have a much higher chance of being seriously hurt or killed than the driver (and passengers) of the other vehicle. Though motorcyclists are re- quired to wear approved helmets and goggles or a face shield, motorcycles themselves do not offer the rider the protections that you have with other types of vehicles. For example, motorcycles don’t protect the rider with a frame around the rider. 

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