Why Motorist Awareness
May 2010
 What
is MAD?
 Why do we need a motorist awareness program?
 How is the MAD program set up?
 How do I become a coordinator?
 Is GWRRA alone in it’s Motorist Awareness
efforts?
 How do I acquire contacts for doing
presentations?
 How can I acquire equipment for conducting
presentations?
M.A.D. or Motorist Awareness Division is an extension
of the Rider Education Program; however, M.A.D.
focuses on educating the motorist community.
Our Motto: “Share the Road!”
Our Mission: “To Facilitate A Reduction In
Motorcycle Crashes With Other Motor Vehicles.”
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Because of escalating crashes, near misses and
conflicts between motorists and motorcyclists.
The time has come for the motorcycling
community to promote its own safety
interests by educating motorists of actions
necessary to reduce motorcycle crashes.
Motorcyclists and motorists are equally
responsible for their own safety.
All highway users must increase their safety
awareness if we are to reverse the increasing
number of crashes.
“Share the Road!” is GWRRA’s proactive
campaign addressing this problem.

A New Era in Motorist Awareness - A Simple
Plan...
The Motorist Awareness Division of GWRRA,
through a “Share the Road” campaign will pursue
three aspects of motorist awareness. Each of
these three are supportive of each other:
 Awareness Education - Providing motorists with
First Class, professional education through our
seminar presentations. Our presentations will be
developed for a multitude of audiences,
educating them to a better understanding of
motorcyclists, the risks involved, a heightened
awareness of motorcycle presence and what they
as motorists can do in the prevention of crashes.

Awareness Advertisement - Serves as a reminder
to motorists that they “Share the Road” with
motorcycles. Reinforced reminder to the
education aspect.
 Public Relations - Interaction with the motoring
public has the ability to reflect highly on GWRRA
and to mold public opinion on how they view
motorcyclists.
Our goal in this area is to build a rapport with
motorists and leave them with a feeling that
motorcyclists are real people who could be their
friend, neighbor, or even a relative.
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 To reduce death, disability and loss of property
resulting from accidents in which a motorcyclist’s
right-of-way has been violated by another motorist.
 To increase motorists awareness of motorcycles
through actively and aggressively conducting
presentations, events, and campaigns to audiences
that are predominantly non-motorcycling.
Approximately 75% of motorcycle crashes involve
a collision with another vehicle – usually a
passenger automobile
 Approximately 66% of these crashes occurred as
a result of motorists violating the motorcycles
right-of-way
 Motorists involved in collisions with motorcyclists
are usually unfamiliar with motorcycles
 Failure of motorists to detect and recognize
motorcycles in traffic is the predominate cause
of motorcycle crashes
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 Education
– Presentations made to
predominately non-motorcycling
organizations such as: Church groups, Lions
Clubs, driver’s education classes, etc.
 Mall /car shows, awareness days at stores,
ball fields, windshield washes etc.
 Signs, banners, bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc.
 Other chapter events
 Articles to newspapers
 Pass out literature to friends, family, coworkers, doctor/dentist offices, etc.
 MAD
Brochures – Familiarity,
Conspicuity, and Double Check
 Bumper stickers
 Brochures and bumper stickers are available
from member services at the home office by
calling: 1-800-843-9460
 Power-Point seminar presentations are
available off the MAD page of the National
website: www.gwrra.org
 MAD
Coordinators are needed at every
level in GWRRA.
 Get
involved in the program. Visit the MAD
page of the National website. Also look at
the Rider Education Handbook on the Rider
Ed page.
 Talk about your desire with your CD and
educator.
 Assists
in developing the Motorist Awareness
Division
 Coordinates information and activities
between your level and those above and
below you
 Seeks opportunities to promote motorist
awareness activities
 Acquires and distributes MAD Materials
 Reporting of MAD activities to next higher
level
Numerous other organizations participate in and
support Motorist Awareness efforts and initiatives
 The Federal government provides states with
Motorist Awareness guidelines. A free copy of the
National Agenda For Motorcycle Safety (NAMS) is
available upon request
 Many state governments provide awareness
initiatives through advertisements: radio,
television, and highway signs
 Other organizations such as: The AMA, MSF, and
ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education),
among others, are all actively engaged in Motorist
Awareness initiatives
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The number of organizations getting involved in
Motorist Awareness is growing
 Your involvement and participation in the Motorist
Awareness Division adds to the network and our
efforts benefit the entire motorcycling community
 GWRRA is not alone – MAD’s Motorist Awareness
efforts can and do Make-A-Difference!
 We need YOU, the member, to help take our
program to the motorist community
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 Remember
that GWRRA members are a
wealth of information
 Members know someone, who knows
someone, who knows someone else
 Ask your Chapter participants and GWRRA
friends for help in locating contacts for
conducting presentations
 Get yourself a day planner for keeping
contact information and scheduled seminars
You are going to need one!
 GWRRA
Chapters, through years of
experience, have become excellent fund
raisers
 “Think Outside The Box” – Have a Chapter
fund raiser to raise funds to purchase
equipment
 Equipment would become the property of
the Chapter
 Chapter can then utilize this equipment for
instructors, trainers, coordinators, and
liaisons for conducting LTD, MFA, MED, Rider
Ed, and MAD presentations
Trained Riders
Educated Motorists
“Trained riders, along with an educated
motorist community, equals safer motorcycling!”
GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS
ASSOCIATION
Motorist Awareness Division