MAY IS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH
We wanted to share with you some information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Motorcyclist fatalities increased in 2012 to 4,957, accounting for 15 percent of total fatalities for the year. This increase in motorcycle fatalities continues a tragic trend over the last 15 years, which only saw a one-year decline in 2009. Crash-related motorcycle injuries also increased from 81,000 in 2011 to 93,000 in 2012. Safe riding practices and cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways.
FACTS ABOUT HELMET USE
· Use of DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets decreased to 60 percent in 2012, down from 66 percent in 2011, based on the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). The decrease was most significant among motorcycle passengers, decreasing from 64 percent in 2011 to 46 percent in 2012.
· Helmet use continued to be significantly higher in States that required all motorcyclists to be helmeted. Ten times as many unhelmeted riders died in States without a universal helmet law (1,858 unhelmeted fatalities) as compared to States with such laws (178 unhelmeted fatalities).
· In 2011, 60 percent of fatally injured motorcycle riders and 49 percent of fatally injured motorcycle passengers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
FACTS ABOUT MOTORCYCLES AND ALCOHOL
- In 2011, the percentage of motorcycle operators who were intoxicated in fatal crashes (27%) was greater than the percentage of intoxicated drivers of passenger cars (23%) and light trucks (22%) in fatal crashes.
· In 2011, 30 percent of all fatally injured motorcycle riders had BAC levels of .08 or higher.
· Motorcycle riders killed in traffic crashes at night were 3.4 times more likely to have BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher than those killed during the day (47% and 14%, respectively).
· Forty-two percent of the 1,997 motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2011 had BAC levels of .08 g/dl or higher. Sixty-seven percent of those killed in single-vehicle crashes on weekend nights had BACs of .08 g/dl or higher.
TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLISTS
· Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed. In 2011, more than one-fifth of motorcycle riders (22%) involved in fatal crashes were riding with invalid licenses at the time of the collision.
· Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and use reflective tape and gear to be more visible. NHTSA estimates helmets saved the lives of 1,617 motorcyclists in 2011.
- Never ride while impaired or distracted—it is not worth the risk of killing or injuring yourself or someone else. Plus, a DUI costs $10,000 on average, and can lead to jail time, loss of your driver’s license, and higher insurance rates.
To learn more about the representation we offer Mississippi clients who have been injured in an auto accident, a dangerous product or through a slip and fall, contact us online or call 228-864-2200 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.
At Hopkins, Barvié & Hopkins, P.L.L.C., we defend your interests and protect your legal rights. With more than 66 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys offer our clients the representation they need. To best meet the needs of our diverse client base, we speak Spanish. Los Abogados Hablan Espanol.
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