High Gas Prices, More Motorcycles, More Accidents

When the price of gas peaked just before hundreds of thousands of Americans were getting ready to set off on summer vacations, many people thought it might be a good idea to trade in their gas hogs for vehicles that had better miles to the gallon. This was especially the case when told we better get used to high gas prices. Well, those prices have fallen a bit from the high of over four dollars a gallon in most states, but lots of people have made the leap from SUV to smaller car, or even motorcycle to get around.

However, what many state and local authorities and emergency rooms have seen is an increase in the number of people injured and killed in motorcycle accidents. Statistically, more motorcyclists are killed during the summer months due to the warmer weather allowing the riders to get out on the roads. Yet, this last summer saw people wondering if the high gas prices were to blame for so many motorcycle accidents. The main reason is that more inexperienced riders were on the highways and roads causing mayhem from coast to coast. And the number of registered motorcycles has been increasing every year. With this increase comes the logical follow-up that more motorcycles on the roads mean more accidents. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nearly 25% of those involved in motorcycle accidents did not have valid licenses. Those with valid licenses obviously had to take a motorcycle driver test and pass it, which leads many to believe lots of inexperienced riders may not have their licenses. Furthermore, many people who ride motorcycles take chances, such as riding without a helmet, something that kills more motorcyclists involved in accidents than other things. In fact, nearly 75% of those killed in motorcycle accidents sustained head injuries.

Though it may seem like a good idea to go out and buy a motorcycle to save on gas, as well as look cool, there are several things to keep in mind before getting on the road:

· Wear a helmet, no matter what your state law is. Though not all states have mandatory helmet laws, more people have survived horrendous accidents because they were wearing a helmet.

· Take classes on learning how to ride your motorcycle. This may seem like a given, but it doesn’t take much to learn the basics of how to start a motorcycle and make it go. However, just like driver’s education classes teenagers take, these classes will help you figure out how to drive safely – and stop the motorcycle.

· Again, as you learn in driver’s ed, you need to obey the rules of the road. Keeping distance between yourself and other vehicles on the road is a little different on a motorcycle than it is in a car. Speed limits and stops signs are there for a reason. Obey the law just as you would while driving your old SUV.

· Many accidents involving motorcycles are due to the fact that another driver could not see the rider. Motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles, so don’t assume that anyone else on the road can see you. No matter the size of the other vehicle, it will usually win in an accident. You do not have a seatbelt or airbags, nor are you surrounded by metal to keep you protected if you are hit by a car going 55 mph.

Though the summer is over, the days are still warm enough to ride your motorcycle in comfort. However, you need to be aware that you are riding a vehicle with a high chance of being injured or killed if you are involved in an accident. The best way to avoid injury or death is to avoid becoming involved in an accident in the first place. Ride safely.