WATCH OUT FOR MOTORCYCLES

California bikers have it pretty good. We get to ride year-round.

The bad part about this is, our odds of getting injured or killed from distracted drivers increase because of this.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month, and every year the Nation tries to direct motorists to be alert to motorcycles. It is a hard sell for sure in todays life of cell phones, iPads and on-board computers mounted in the dash of automobiles.

California has already passed laws further restricting the use of cell phones while operating a vehicle, unfortunately, my view of this (which I see everyday, because my scoot is my everyday transportation) shows it is not working.

Increased enforcement and heavier fines is needed for our new laws to have any bite. Motorists in cages, with steel surrounding them, still have a sense of security. We, on the other hand, are all out there with flesh, bone and body fluids.

This is not an even match. We know that - but we choose this lifestyle for our own reasons. We are unable to drink coffee, read a newspaper, check our FaceBook or email notifications, put on make-up, or text our buddy - all while operating a motor vehicle down the highway.

We need ALL of our attention focused on the road, the hazards and especially other drivers in the cages that are NOT focused. I see this every day, and have a close encounter at least once a week.

So . . . my point is . . . you can do your best to draw attention and increase public awareness of us out there on the road, but it will never decrease motorcycle fatalities until our laws are enforced, and the fines so high on cell usage, that people will not even consider taking that chance.