This Week at NCDOT: Motorcycle Safety and Data on the Fly Event

RALEIGH, NC (April 28, 2017)…The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in NCDOT Now, the department’s weekly newscast.

Motorcycle Safety
Governor Roy Cooper is set to proclaim May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

There are more than 193,000 motorcycles registered in North Carolina with more than 177,000 licensed motorcycle drivers. In 2016, there were more than 3,600 motorcycle-related crashes that resulted in 385 injuries and 152 fatalities. To keep motorcyclists and other drivers safe, follow the tips below.

For motorcyclists:
• Wear brightly colored clothing and reflective tape
• Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and protective gear
• Obey all traffic laws, including the posted speed limit
• Use hand and turn signals
• Never ride distracted or impaired

For other drivers:
• Share the road
• Stay alert and never drive distracted or impaired
• Be cautious and aware of motorcycles hidden in a car’s blind spot
• Use your signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic
• Keep a safe distance behind motorcycles

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program and BikeSafe North Carolina invite motorcyclists to enroll in a free “Riders Skills Day” class. For the class schedule and more information, visit bikesafenc.com.

Data on the Fly
As part of the North Carolina Science Festival, NCDOT partnered with SAS, an analytics software company, to host the Data on the Fly event at the Division of Aviation’s hangar on April 21.

This hands-on opportunity provided 25 high school students experience in building airplane monitoring systems using modern technology, including Raspberry Pi programmable computers, iPads and special antennas.

The event is part of NCDOT’s ongoing efforts to support educational initiatives that further transportation in North Carolina and provide students with valuable experience.

New State Bicycle Law
With the weather getting warmer, more bicyclists will be on the road. If passing a cyclist, make sure to adhere to a state law passed in 2016 and leave at least four feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist. Doing so will help everyone arrive at their destination safely.

For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.