Posted by rozeklawoffice on February 21, 2010 under Motorcycle Accidents | 
According to the 2009 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), use of motorcycle helmets in 2009 was 67%, up from 63% in 2008. In the past five years, motorcycle helmet use has been increasing from 48% in 2005 to 67% in 2009.
The 2009 survey also found that helmet use in States that require all motorcyclists to wear helmets significantly increased from 78% in 2008 to 86% in 2009. The helmet use in these States continued to be higher than in those States without universal helmet use law. Rural communities saw the highest gains in helmet use.
This is good news for Wisconsin riders. It is widely known and proven that helmet use significantly decreases the fatalities and severity of injuries in all motorcycle accidents. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists’ lives in 2008, and that 823 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.
Motorcycles can be dangerous if not properly driven and without the use of helmets. It has been shown that motorcycle transport is more dangerous then other modes of transport. Although motorcycles account for 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States in 2007 and only 0.4 percent of all vehicle miles traveled, they are 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 9 times more likely to be injured.
In 2008, there were 79 Wisconsin Motorcycle Accidents, of which 23% of the drivers were wearing helmets and 77% were not.
If you are a motorcycle rider, please remember to wear your helmet. It could be the difference between your life or death.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on January 14, 2010 under General, Motorcycle Accidents |
1. Look for motorcycles, especially when checking traffic at an intersection.
2. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.
3. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections.
4. Because of its small size a motorcycle may seem to be moving faster than it really is. Don’t assume all motorcyclists are speed demons.
5. Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
6. Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders, (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.
7. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
8. Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
9. Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can’t always stop “on a dime.”
10. When a motorcycle is in motion, don’t think of it as motorcycle; think of it as a person.
Remember, cars and trucks share the road with motorcycles. We must all do promote highway safety. For more information on motorcycle accidents and safety.
