Tamaqua Police Chief Rick Weaver sees lots of bad drivers on the job.

And when he's not at work and relaxing by riding his motorcycle, he sees even more."I've had people pull out in front of me, and I've had people just come into my lane because they're texting," Weaver said. "Motorcycles can't be stopped as quickly as cars, and people need to be aware of them and look for them.""The state offers a free motorcycle safety course, and I recommend that everybody take it," he said. "And wear a helmet."Weaver, Tamaqua officers Rick Bekesy and Anthony Stanell, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation press officer Sean Brown, and North Central Highway Safety Network project coordinator Carol Alonge kicked off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month at Thorn's Cycles & ATVs, Tamaqua."With the warm weather finally arriving, the (motorcycle riding) season has started," Devlin said. "It's time to educate riders and the general public."And yet, from 2012 to 2013, the number of licensed motorcyclist in the state increased by nearly 6,000 riders. Brown said many riders are taking advantage of the free safety courses offered by the state.The Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program, created in 1984, now has 70 training sites statewide. Two levels of free training are offered for motorcyclists, the Basic Rider Course, for beginning riders, and the Basic Rider Course 2, designed for riders who already have experience riding a motorcycle.For Pennsylvania residents, the courses are free. To find a course in your area, visit

www.pamsp.com or call 800-845-9533."Ridership is definitely increasing, because motorcycles are fun to ride and economic to operate," Brown said. "But riders and motorists need to be aware of each other, and be careful especially in various road conditions."Safety Tips • Road users should never drive, bike or walk while distracted.• A motorcyclist has the same rights and responsibilities of any other motorist.• Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width; do not share the lane.• Because motorcycles are smaller than most vehicles, drivers can misjudge their speed and distance.• Motorcycles can be hidden in the vehicle's "blind spot" so motorists should be careful before changing lanes.• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.• Don't be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle. It may not be self-canceling and the motorcyclist may have forgotten to turn it off.• Allow more distance, about four seconds, when following a motorcycle. Motorcyclists may suddenly need to change speed or adjust lane position to avoid hazards such as potholes, gravel, railroad crossings, pavement seams, grooved pavement, or wet or slippery surfaces.