May is “Share the Road” month in Florida: Here’s what you should know

If you’re familiar with Florida, you know that sand, sun, water, tourists, bicycles and motorcycles are all part of the scene in the summer. That’s why the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has declared May to be “Share the Road” month.

What is “Share the Road” all about? Basically, state authorities are trying to raise awareness among motorists that they aren’t alone out there on the roads. They need to make room for the bicyclists and motorcyclists with whom they share the roads.

Why is motorcycle and bicycle awareness so important?

As traffic can be stationary at intersections, people often see it as a good chance to take a breather. They may check their cell phone, grab a drink or something to eat, even rest their eyes for a second if they are fatigued. All of these actions are extremely dangerous forms of removing a driver’s attention from the road. Traffic may be stationary for a brief moment at intersections, but this can change rapidly, and road users need to be prepared for this. Traffic and pedestrians can come from numerous different angles, and these are hazards that drivers at intersections must always account for.

Processing the surroundings

According to FLHSMV, there were about 280 crashes every single week in this state that involved either a bike or a motorcycle — and most are preventable. In 2020 alone, there were more than 8,000 motorcycle wrecks and more than 6,000 bicycle wrecks involving motor vehicles. These accidents left at least 668 people dead and 2,687 seriously injured.

One of the big problems is that drivers in passenger cars and trucks often don’t realize that they’re breaking the law when they violate the space used by a bicyclist or motorcyclist. Florida drivers are required by law to give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clear space when they drive past them. are never permitted to share a lane with a motorcyclist.

What can you do if you’re injured by an errant driver?

The harsh reality is that the motorcyclist or bicyclist are always going to lose when they’re involved in a wreck with a larger vehicle. Far too many are killed or injured by drivers who simply didn’t exercise enough caution — or who were unwilling to share the road the way that they should.

If you’ve been injured or your loved one was killed, find out more about how you can hold the other driver responsible for their actions. An attorney can help you learn more.