Memorial Day weekend is the culmination of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, but being alert to those riding their two-wheeled cycles is important all 12 months out of the year. It’s incumbent upon the riders to make themselves as visible as possible when riding, but learning how to safely share the road with motorcycle enthusiasts is important for all.
Statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that there is a higher percentage of motorcyclists who died in fatal collisions while intoxicated than there are motorists who die in similar circumstances. That’s why campaigns like “Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over” focus on urging motorcyclists to only ride when sober.
As summer 2016 unfolds, there will undoubtedly be more motorcycles joining the traffic queues leading in and out of all five boroughs of the city. Nobody wants to be the one responsible for a rider losing his or her life because of a distracted driver.
Yet statistically speaking, some will be killed, as nationwide in 2012, 4,957 motorcycle riders died in wrecks, up 7 percent from the year before. Some of the riders’ lives might have been saved had they been wearing helmets that complied with the standards set forth by the Department of Transportation. However, statistics from 2013 show that only 60 percent of riders abided by those regulations. Though reasons for noncompliance vary, some riders are under the mistaken belief that helmets interfere with their hearing and vision.
If you are a motorcyclist who winds up injured due to an oblivious or distracted driver, learning about the rights that you have for seeking compensation is very important.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month,” accessed May 27, 2016
