Motorcycle Safety Means Business In May!
Be it on back road byways or the open lanes of I-95, motorcycles are back. And what better time to remind riders of safety than the beginning of season, which is why May is national Motorcycle Safety Month.
Unseasonable temperatures gave motorcyclists a head start to riding this year, but while riders are rejoicing, officials are concerned about the early start. Motorcycle accident fatalities have been increasing every year since 1997, while motorcycle injuries have been increasing since 1999. Typically, May is one of the deadliest months for bikers, as many begin riding again after taking the winter months off.
With over 5,000 fatalities and 100,000 injured bikers annually nationwide, motorcycle safety has become a national health concern. In 2007, motorcycles accounted for 13 percent of total traffic fatalities, while totaling fewer than 3 percent of the registered vehicles on the road. From 2005 to 2009, a total of 99 people died on Maine roads in motorcycle-related crashes, of which only four were women drivers. Maine had its first motorcycle death of the year on April 12.
Other factors for the increase in fatalities is an up tick in registered motorcycles and the decision not to wear a helmet. Over the last decade in Maine, the number of registered motorcycles increased from 25,604 in 1998 to 51,414 in 2008, and a recent study found that motorcyclists are 37 percent less likely to die in an accident when wearing a helmet. Currently only 20 states require bikers to wear a helmet. Maine is not one of them.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed a motorcycle safety campaign to help educate both bikers and motorists called, “Share the Road.” The campaign includes materials such as operator licensing manuals, public service announcements, brochures, pamphlets, posters, and links to educational websites.
Among the many motorcycle safety tips the NHTSA shares are:
- Motorcycles are small and often difficult for drivers to see. Position yourself in a lane where you will be most visible to other drivers and never ride in the “No Zone” or blind spots of tractor-trailers and automobiles.
- Maintain proper distance from other motorists, as bikers are often affected by minor elements that may not phase a motorist, including pot holes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, grooved paving, and railroad crossings.
- Avoid riding in bad weather.
- Wear protective gear and consider wearing a Department of Transportation compliant helmet. Proper safety gear can help save lives.
- Use hand and turn signals together to draw more attention to yourself when turning.
- Obey the general safety rules of the road.
- Get to know your owner’s manual; not all motorcycles are exactly alike.
- Always apply both the front and the rear brakes at the same time when slowing down. The front brake on a motorcycle can supply as much as 70 percent of your stopping power.
- Ride in a staggered formation, never side by side, and never weaving in and out of traffic.
- Always keep at least a two-second following distance from the motorcycle directly in front of you.
Riding a motorcycle can be one of the most exhilarating feelings one can have. Hitting the pavement is not. With proper safety precautions, your fun ride can be a free ride, while being a safe ride at the same time.
And if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, call the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein for a free and confidential consultation. You may be entitled to compensation. In over 35 years, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has helped over 15,000 Mainers get the justice they deserve.
To find a motorcycle refresher course near you please visit: http://nm.msf-usa.org/msf/ridercourses.aspx?state=ME.
“To be a motorcycle rider is to take on an extra sense of responsibility on the roads.”
- Maine Governor Jon Baldacci
The two biggest factors for motorcycle injuries and fatalities are age and helmets. As bikers get older, their reaction time begins to diminish. In 2007, 47 percent of motorcycle fatalities involved those over the age of forty. Baby boomers, who often have more disposable income and can buy bigger and faster bikes, are more likely to die than teenagers on sport bikes. The average age of those who died in a motorcycle crash last year was 46.
Other factors for the increase in fatalities is an up tick in registered motorcycles and the decision not to wear a helmet. Over the last decade in Maine, the number of registered motorcycles increased from 25,604 in 1998 to 51,414 in 2008, and a recent study found that motorcyclists are 37 percent less likely to die in an accident when wearing a helmet. Currently only 20 states require bikers to wear a helmet. Maine is not one of them.
