Local municipalities, such as Pinehurst and the City of Orange, recently have issued proclamations declaring May Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month.
The Texas Department of Transportation launched the “Share the Road” campaign which aims to reduce Texas motorcycle accidents.
While auto accident fatalities have decreased in recent years, more people are dying on motorcycles than ever before. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a person riding a motorcycle has a five times greater chance of being injured in a crash and a 25 times greater chance of dying in a collision.
In Texas, 429 motorcyclists were killed in 2010. This represents 14% of the state’s fatalities cause by motor vehicles. Approximately one-third of those fatality accidents happened at an intersection. Of those motorcycle fatalities, 85 were between the ages of 13 - 26.
In 2011, 470 motorcyclists were killed on Texas roads, representing 16% of all motor vehicle deaths for that same year and 5,770 motorcyclists were seriously injured.
The number of motorcycles registered within the state has more than doubled in the last decade as well as the number of motorcyclist killed.
The Texas Department of Transportation recommends:
• Look twice at intersections: Watch out for cyclists at intersections and check mirrors regularly and clearly signal your intentions.
• Give motorcycle space: Don’t follow a motorcycle too closely. Allow a full lane of travel space between your vehicle and a motorcycle.
• Anticipate next steps: Obstructions that drivers do not notice could prove to be fatal for a motorcyclist.
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source: The Orange Leader (Burleigh, 5/3)
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