EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is bringing a motorcycle safety interactive virtual reality exhibit to El Paso on Thursday evening, May 2 as part of its “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” campaign, TxDOT announced in a press release.
The exhibit will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday at Southwest University Park (the set up will be just inside the Franklin Street gate).
“TxDOT’s exhibit will feature a virtual reality component that gives participants the opportunity to experience from a driver’s perspective how difficult it is to spot motorcyclists in high-risk traffic situations and to also experience what close calls and dangerous situations look like from a motorcyclist’s perspective,” read the press release.
In 2023 in Texas, 599 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes and 2,483 motorcyclists were seriously injured, according to TxDOT.
Additionally, the number of motorcyclists killed on Texas roads increased by seven percent last year, and intersection fatal crashes in our state increased by 21 percent.
TxDOT says that in 2023, the number of motorcycle traffic crashes in the El Paso area totaled 326. These crashes resulted in 25 motorcyclist (operators and passengers) deaths and 70 motorcyclists being seriously injured.
With this numbers in mind, TxDOT’s campaign, which commemorates National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May, strives to protect motorcyclists and to remind all drivers of safe driving habits, including:
Check yourself: Always remind yourself to keep an eye out for any motorcycles nearby. This will help your eyes and brain notice motorcycles on the road.
Look twice: Use turn signals and check blind spots before changing lanes.
Turning left? Avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle. It can be hard to judge their speed and distance, so let them pass first and always use your turn signal to alert them.
Pay special attention at intersections: More than a third of all motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections.
Make some space: Keep a safe following distance. Motorcyclists can reduce their speed by downshifting, which doesn’t activate the brake light. Treat motorcycles like cars by giving them a full lane when driving or passing.
Slow down: Obey posted speed limits and drive according to conditions.
Stay alert: Give driving your full attention. Even a momentary distraction can have deadly consequences.
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