Safety
Safe riding is an integral part of all OPHOG rides and, literally, a way of life for OPHOG members. Riding a motorcycle requires constant attention to road conditions, other riders, and, of course, cars with drivers who don't seem to be able to see motorcyles.
This section of our web site provides tips, recommendations and services to help ensure that you keep the rubber on the road and reach your destinations safely.
The Two Second Rule: Do You Really Follow It?
Most riders know about the "Two Second Rule" that says to allow two seconds between you and the bike (or car) in front of you. And they also know that in a staggered formation, the rule is modified to one second to the bike to your left or right and two seconds to the bike directly in front. This two seconds, which allows for a minimum safe distance to react in an emergency, means that the distance between bikes should change with the speed of the bikes.*
At 10 mph, 1 second = 15 feet, 2 seconds = 30 feet.
At 20 mph, 1 second = 30 feet, 2 seconds = 60 feet.
At 30 mph, 1 second = 45 feet, 2 seconds = 90 feet.
At 40 mph, 1 second = 60 feet, 2 seconds = 120 feet.
At 50 mph, 1 second = 75 feet, 2 seconds = 150 feet. (This is half of a football field!)
At 60 mph, 1 second = 90 feet, 2 seconds = 180 feet.
*Calculation: At 1 mph, a bike travels 1.466 feet per second (5280 feet per mile/3600 seconds per hour). Thus, to determine the travel distance at any speed, multiply that speed by 1.466 feet. E.g. 10 mph x 1.466=14.66 feet.
Emergency Medical Card
OPHOG members are encouraged to complete and carry the emergency medical card available online for free at the Public Safety Hub web site.
Duval Motorcycle Fatalities Fall in 2008 and 2009
In 2009, 21 motorcylists died in Duval County, a modest drop from the 25 motorcylists killed in 2008. But the 2008 number marked a substantial decline from the 32 biker deaths in 2007. In 2006 there were 24 motorcycle fatalities. This is a good improvement, but still too many.
Many factors contributed to these numbers, but the bottom line is: Ride smart, ride sober and ride safe.