CHENANGO COUNTY – Have you ever checked both directions, and proceeded to enter an intersection or the highway, only to see a motorcycle that you did not observe? Have you ever been distracted or daydreaming and not observing traffic?

Today is a fast-paced society where thoughts of family or work draw our attention away from the task at hand – driving.

Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable in the motoring public. In any collision with a four-wheel vehicle, a motorcyclist is at a severe disadvantage. A motorcycle crash with a car or truck can mean death or serious injury for the motorcyclist. Injuries sustained can potentially result in loss of limb, damage to internal organs, paralysis or other types of life-changing disabilities.

Chenango County statistics for 2012 reflect that of the 1,018 motor vehicle crashes, 27 involved motorcycles. Of those 27 crashes, five resulted in fatalities and the other 22 crashes caused personal injury to the motorcycle operators. New York State statistics for the same period reflect a similar proportion of total motor vehicle crashes (294,757) to those involving motorcycles (5,916). The majority of those motorcycle crashes took place between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Here are some tips for safe motorcycle riding:

• Wear a helmet

Research shows that large numbers of motorcyclists escape death by wearing helmets. Head injuries, even those sustained at low impact, can be fatal, further substantiating the case for wearing a helmet.

• Wear brightly-colored, protective clothing