Hello follow bikers—George Tait here with Utah Bike Law.

I don't know if you have been riding much yet this season but I have.

As soon as winter is over and the weather turns a little warmer there are a lot of motorcycle riders on the road. There are two things that vehicle drivers do that drive me nuts when I am riding my motorcycle.

One of the most irksome things that vehicle drivers do is come right up to a stop sign—briefly slow down or come to a brief stop and then pull forward right away as if they are entering the roadway I am on. Drives me crazy because I think they do not see me and are going to pull outright in front of me.

The other thing vehicle drivers do and is incredibly dangerous for motorcycle drivers is when they are turning left—usually at an intersection. It is like motorcycle riders are invisible to them often times.

In Utah something like 65% of all motorcycle crashes are caused by left turning drivers. I can not tell you how many times I seen the offending driver write on the crash report, “I just did not see him.” Isn't it true—its like you are invisible—they look right through you like you do not even exist.

Some motorcycle riders say you have to drive like you are invisible but it is tough to do that. At every intersection what do we have to do? Slowdown the 5 miles an hour, flash your lights from high beam to low beam six times, wear a florescent jacket with flashing lights on it?

I think it is because vehicle drivers are just not used to seeing motorcycles on the road again after winter. They just do not attenuate or see you at all. But then again, left-turning drivers crash into motorcycles in the middle of summer too.

Be careful out there—take care.