Before Army Sgt. Maj. Edward Dunn fires up his 2005 Harley-Davidson Road King, he dons a bright-colored shirt, pulls on sturdy riding shoes and gloves, fastens his DOT-approved helmet and checks his bike to make sure it's in good riding condition.

It's a routine he's adopted to help ensure his safety on Hawai'i's crowded roads. Still, he said, it's never guaranteed that he'll return home safely, no matter how responsibly he rides.

With Hawai'i on pace to surpass last year's record number of motorcycle-related fatalities, Dunn said yesterday that drivers need to be more aware of who else is on the road.

"If you're a motorcycle rider, or if someone in your family is one, you're more aware of motorcyclists and cyclists on the road," Dunn said. "But everybody has to be aware. Motorcyclists need to have situational awareness, but so do drivers of four-wheeled vehicles."

Yesterday, Dunn joined some 50 other motorcycle riders at a "Share the Road" rally to promote motorcycle safety.

The rally was sponsored by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and the state Department of Transportation as part of a series in an ongoing motorcycle safety campaign funded by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

The number of motorcycle and moped fatalities on Hawai'i roads this year continue to amass at a record-setting pace.

To date, there have been 23 motorcycle and two moped fatalities in Hawai'i, compared with 11 motorcycle fatalities and one moped death at the same time last year.

DUBIOUS RANKING

The number of motorcycle-related deaths in Hawai'i has risen in five of the past six years. Last year's total of 32 set a record for motorcycle fatalities in the state and earned Hawai'i the dubious ranking of No. 3 in the nation in motorcycle-related fatalities per capita.

The previous high was 29 in 1994, according to data from the NHTSA.

Jiro Sumada, the DOT's deputy director of highways, said that while most motorcyclists are "well aware" of their tenuous position on the road, many car, truck, SUV and bus drivers need to be more aware of how to safely share the road with two-wheeled vehicles.

"Everybody has the right to use the roadway," he said.

Otto Hillen, 70, of Hawai'i Kai rides with the Mau Koa Kahiko motorcycle club and has seen more than his share of irresponsible driver behavior. He's had to drop his bike more than once to avoid collisions.

"Some people just don't care," he said. "They see you, but without even using their turn signal, they dive right in."

Elliot Kano, 56, of Hawai'i Kai, said some drivers are simply "irritated with anything on two wheels," and their aggressive behavior creates dangerous situations for both parties.

"I think everybody should try riding on two wheels," he said. "It makes you a better driver because you're much more aware."

WAKE-UP CALL

James Propotnick, the deputy director of law enforcement for the Department of Public Safety, still bears the scars from a collision with a car that cut in front of him while attempting a U-turn.

"We pay taxes, we pay fees, we get licenses and registration, and we have the right to be on the road just like anyone else," he said. "I know a thousand riders if I know one and we all pay attention to what's around us. It's incumbent that drivers do the same.

"We all know someone who has been hurt, and we've all lost someone because of an accident with another vehicle," he said. "We need to stop it. We need everybody to wake up."

Propotnick acknowledged that some motorcycle riders also need to do more to ensure their safety.

"Some people ride beyond their means and ability or buy bikes that are beyond their ability to control," he said. "And it's always tough to see someone get on a bike after drinking. Even one drink can impair your ability to ride."