Posts tagged "motorcycle safety"

The month of May is designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The NHTSA wants to use the month of May to get across the message that safer motorcycle riding and sharing the roads properly with motorcycles will prevent motorcycle accidents all year round. 

Even though people can ride motorcycles year round usually in California, the use of motorcycles around the country goes up in the spring months when people are excited to get their motorcycles back out on the open road.

The fact that motorcyclists are exposed to the open air is one of the draws of riding a motorcycle -- the feel of freedom. This fact, however, also means that a motorcyclist is exposed to more dangers than a motorist who is protected by the metal of a car and its many safety features, such as air bags. A motorcyclist has nothing to defend him or herself besides the gear they wear and their riding skills.

Flocks of California motorcyclists are starting to sell their bikes due to the terrible road conditions in California. Even motorcyclists who have been riding most of their lives are turning in their keys.

At the same time, a report by Progressive Insurance has rated California as the 42nd worst state for motorcyclists. Despite the almost constant sunny weather and countless scenic routes, California was ranked close to the bottom in the survey. Progressive reports that in addition to with the low percentage of smoother riding roadways, California also has higher motorcycle accident frequency, a higher population density, and the gas prices are higher than they are in other states.

May means that summer is just around the corner in San Jose and that means more motorcyclists will be sharing the road with drivers. As always, it is important that drivers take the time to be respectful of motorcyclists and remember that motorcycles are motor vehicles with equal rights to the road.

May is also Motorcycle Awareness Month and both car drivers and motorcycle riders are encouraged to be safe while traveling on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of all motorcycle accidents end in death or serious injury, compared to only 20 percent of all car accidents.

A motorcycle fatalities report released by the Governor's Highway Safety Association shows that deaths caused by motorcycle accidents were down in 2010. Motorcycle deaths dropped 2 percent across the country in 2010, but a disturbing change indicated that motorcycle fatalities were back on the increase by the year's third quarter. An encouraging 25 percent drop in motorcycle accident-related deaths between January and March reversed to a 3 percent increase by mid-year. Safety officials are concerned that the up-tick may mean that earlier declines were only temporary.

Since the 1990s, deaths in motorcycle accidents doubled to a high of more than 5,300 deaths by 2008. During 2009, motorcycle fatalities dropped 16 percent. Some safety officials believe the drop was due to a recession-affected decrease in recreational riding. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation disagrees. The riders' group feels more riders are using motorcycles as a cheaper form of transportation.

In the past, California law allowed teenagers 15 and a half years of age and older to legally ride a motorcycle on a learner's permit that required nothing more than passing a written examination at the DMV. However, a 2007 accident has lead to a change in the law and young riders will now need more training before they can be allowed to ride a motorcycle on the streets.

In 2007, 18-year-old Jarrad Cole passed the written exam at the DMV and received his motorcycle learner's permit. His father, an experienced rider, bought him a Suzuki RS. His father drove the motorcycle home and set up a practice course with orange cones for his son to practice upon. Jarrad began to practice, and his father went inside to get more cones when he heard the sound of an accident.