The pleasures of motorcycle riding are numerous: the sun in your face and wind in your hair transform a boring trip or commute into an adventure filled with sights, sounds and smells that no car ride can match, save perhaps convertibles. But what no car can deliver is the freedom and the thrill of riding as the road visibly moves inches below your feet and the roller-coaster-like sensation of taking turns and hills on a bike.

Understandably, motorcycle riding is becoming more popular in warm and sunny states like California and even in colder states during the spring and summer. Over the last decade the number of motorcycles registered nationally has increased 75% and in the state of California has increased 50%, recorded in January 2010 to exceed 800,000 registered, highway-ready two-wheel vehicles.

But motorcyclists share the roads with other motor vehicles and motorcycle riders have the highest fatality rate than any other type of motor vehicle passenger or driver. Staggering increases in motorcycle accidents and collisions go hand-in-hand with the increased number of motorcyclists on the roads.

Lack of motorcycle visibility due to passenger car and truck blind spots, distracted driving or driving under the influence of fatigue and road design defects, alcohol or drugs are the leading contributing factors to the majority of motorcycle accidents, both fatal and non-fatal. Newer cars are outfitted with backup cameras and sensors able to detect vehicles like motorcycles in blind spots, but this is not enough to educate the general public on sharing the road with more motorcycles.

Annually in California more than 500 motorcycle riders are killed and over 13,000 riders are injured. To combat the alarming statistics the Department of Motor Vehicles of California released the pertinent safety video to help all motor vehicles sharing the freeways travel more safely, called "Sharing the road with motorcycles and bicycles."

This video, and other educational programs, are an attempt to educate drivers and riders on safe driving and safe choices that can increase the safety of the entire driving population. Motorcycle and passenger car safety begins before you hit the road.

Safety begins on an individual level. No one should ever get behind the wheel are take a hold of the handlebars when they are extremely fatigued, after they have had any amount of alcohol or if they are under the influence of prescription or illegal drugs. Once on the road is important to stay alert by checking the rear and side view mirrors frequently, following the speed limit and staying a safe distance from cars in front. Car and truck drivers as well as motorcyclists should always use their turning signals, headlights and high beams properly and double check their blind spots before reversing, turning or changing lanes.

Safety precautions can help prevent accidents but cannot eradicate them entirely. If you've been the victim of a motorcycle or car accident contact a competent injury attorney who knows traffic accident lot inside and out.