SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and local police are giving out tips for both motorcyclists and drivers on how they can share the road.

Texas roadways are an especially dangerous place for motorcyclists.

The lone star state had the third most motorcycle fatalities in 2021 – just behind California and Florida.

Sergeant Brandon Hughes with the Sherman Police Department said that one of the main ways motorcyclists can keep theirselves safe is to drive defensively.

“Be hyper aware of your surroundings,” Hughes said. “Leave plenty of room between yourself and another car, and always signal your lane changes and please wear your helmet.”

Nationally, motorcyclists were over 20 times more likely to die on the road in 2022 than drivers in a passenger car.

One of the reasons for that disparity in fatality rate is speed.

“Anytime you’re going to go 80, 90, 100 plus miles an hour, you have less control on your vehicle,” Hughes said.

In 2022, 35% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to just 22% of passenger car drivers.

Add to that the ever changing road work in north Texas.

“It’s just going to create more room for it a traffic accident,” Hughes said. “Especially with all the added construction around Sherman.”

Sharing the road is a 2-way street.

“Slow down and please limit distractions,” Hughes said. “Stay off your cell phone.”

Hughes said the drivers of passenger cars also need to do their part to keep an eye out for motorcycles.

“I would say to give them some extra room, they’re smaller than us,” Hughes said. “Watch them in your blind spots.”

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