May marks Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, coinciding with the time of year when motorcycle owners typically take their bikes out of storage and start riding them.

The Motorist Awareness Division of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA)works to raise public awareness of motorcycle presence and promote safety efforts on the roadways.

“This is the month people start getting their motorcycles out of storage,” said Brian Minick, senior chapter director for GWRRA’s DeKalb chapter.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle deaths have risen nine straight years, with 4,810 deaths in 2006.

“Motorcycles are dying to be seen,” Minick said.

Motorcyclist James Gust, sophomore finance major, knows firsthand the risks of driving a motorcycle early in the season.

“They literally can’t see you, especially in the spring when you get back on the road,” Gust said.

“They aren’t used to seeing you.”

With gas prices increasing, more motorcyclists may take to the roads this season.

“More people are going to be driving back and forth to work rather than just driving for leisure,” Minick said.

GWRRA will take part in a series of activities and efforts to inform drivers to be more aware of motorcyclists.

“Our organization is doing windshield washing at rest areas, as well as handing out safety information,” Minick said.

Other activities include continuing education programs such as rider-training courses and classroom courses that cover safe riding strategies, first aid and crash-scene rescue scenarios.

The DeKalb Police Department is one of the supporters of GWRRA’s motorcycle awareness efforts.

“Seventy-five percent of motorcycle accidents happen at intersections,” said Sgt. James

McDougall. “We want motorists to be 100 percent sure no motorcycles are coming because they tend to blend into the background.”

Yellow banners are also being placed all over Illinois highways to remind people that they are going to start seeing more motorcycles.