Press Release  MassDOT, MAPFRE Insurance Reminder: Ride to Work Day June 10th

BOSTON — Enjoy a beautiful summer day with Ride to Work Day! The annual event will be held on June 10th, the second Tuesday in June. The initiative aims  to promote using motorcycles and scooters as everyday transportation for work, school, and errands.

Safety comes first with all modes of transportation. The freedom that motorcycles and scooters provide also comes with a responsibility to follow the rules of the road and wear safety gear. MassDOT provides a Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP). This program within the Registry of Motor Vehicles includes quality rider education and training for novice and experienced motorcycle riders. For more information, visit: Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP).

Fatalities riding a motorcycle or scooter are much higher than passenger car fatalities in traffic crashes. Keep safe by following the same rules that vehicles do, including speed limits and traffic rules, and not driving when impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Safer motorcycle riding begins with helmets. Helmets save lives. Not only is wearing a helmet the law in Massachusetts, surviving a crash is significantly improved by wearing your helmet. Always wear a helmet that meets the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. When shopping for a helmet, look for the DOT symbol on the back, which certifies that the helmet meets the DOT standard.

Motorists should also be aware of and watch for motorcyclists on the roadway. The smaller size and reduced visibility makes them vulnerable – look out for motorcycles and scooters when changing lanes.

From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: “Motorcyclists know that the freedom and exhilaration of riding is like nothing else. NHTSA wants you to be able to enjoy a full lifetime of that joy because you’ve chosen to ride safely—while wearing a helmet and while sober. Use Ride to Work Day as a time to review the facts about motorcycle safety, to share them with riders and drivers alike, and to recommit yourself safe riding.”

The MAPFRE Insurance-sponsored MassDOT Highway Assistance Program is on patrol to help all motorists, including motorcyclists, on the highways. Patrol operators monitor some of the state’s busiest highways around Metro Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Cape Cod (seasonal). The Highway Assistance Patrol covers 13 major state roadways and interstates, the Emergency Service Patrol covers the Mass Pike (I-90) from New York to Boston and the Incident Response Operators cover the Metropolitan Highway System and tunnels. The Highway Assistance Patrol is in service Monday–Friday between 6 a.m.–10 a.m. and 3 p.m.–7 p.m. During holidays, there are extended routes in heavy-traffic areas. On I-90, and in Boston’s tunnel system, assistance is provided 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

Written by,

Your friends at MAPFRE Insurance 

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