Motorcycle accidents tend to rise in summer months
TXDOT promotes safety campaign
There have already been at least five fatality motorcycle accidents this year in TxDOT’s Atlanta District.
The Atlanta District includes Bowie, Camp, Cass, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Panola, Titus and Upshur Counties.
From January to the end of June, there have been 51 reported motorcycle crashes with 19 serious injuries and five fatalities, according to data provided by TxDOT.
There were 127 total reported motorcycle crashes in 2019 with 51 serious injuries and eight fatalities for the entire year.
In the first six months of 2020, there have been 19 serious injuries with five fatalities.
Motorcycle traffic increased during summer months and TxDOT’s annual “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” campaign aims to alert drivers to the risks that motorcyclists face and suggests safety precautions motorists can take to protect motorcyclists and themselves. The campaign reminds drivers that motorcycles are small and can be hard to see. In 2019, 412 motorcyclists were killed in Texas, and more than 1,800 were seriously injured.
“We just want people to look twice, especially during summer months when more people are out riding motorcycles,” said Marcus Sandifer, public information officer for TxDOT Atlanta District.
On average, one motorcyclist dies every day on Texas roads, and transportation officials are urging Texans to exercise caution and limit distractions while on the road, as traffic increases during the summer months.
The six-month period from May through October is the deadliest for motorcycle riders and accounted for 61 percent of motorcycle fatalities in Texas last year, according to TxDOT.
People are vulnerable on a motorcycle.
The best defense is helmets but other parts of the body are exposed to pavement, Sandifer said.
Safety experts say that crashes between motorcyclists and drivers often occur when drivers make left turns in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, misjudging the distance and speed of the motorcycle. Last year, 30 percent of Texas motorcycle fatalities occurred in an intersection or were intersection-related.
TxDOT wants drivers to follow these safety tips to prevent vehicle/motorcycle crashes:
■ Take extra care when making a left turn. It’s easy to misjudge the speed and proximity of an oncoming motorcycle. It’s safest to let the motorcycle pass to avoid turning in front of the rider.
■ Pay special attention at intersections. Close to onethird of motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections.
■ Give driving your full attention. Even a momentary distraction, such as answering a phone call or changing the radio station, can have deadly consequences
■ Look twice when changing lanes. Check mirrors, check blind spots and always use turn signals.
■ Give motorcyclists room when passing them. Move over to the passing lane and don’t crowd the motorcyclist’s full lane.