Motorcycling Accidents in Tuscaloosa and Elsewhere Targeted by Safety Awareness Month

May 4, 2012 - Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Tuscaloosa by Cross & Smith

Roughly 80 percent of the time, motorcyclists are faced with serious risks of injury and even death in the event of an auto accident. The occupants of motor vehicles suffer from severe injury or death only 20 percent of the time. Because of the risks that motorcyclists face on our roadways, the entire month of May is dedicated as Motorcycle Awareness Safety Month, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Safe driving advocates are calling on the help of motorists to remember riders as the spring and summer riding season begins.

Our Tuscaloosa motorcycle accident lawyers understand that motorcyclists are oftentimes overlooked by the drivers of passenger vehicles. The Alabama Motorcycle Safety Program was designed to help our two-wheeled friends to defend themselves on our roadways. This program offers some serious motorcycle riding courses for riders in an attempt to teach them how to navigate our roadways as safely as possible.

In 2009, there were nearly 100 motorcyclist fatalities in the state of Alabama. Most of these motorcycle accidents occurred in Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Mobil and Baldwin counties.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics:

-There were nearly 110,000 accidents in which a motorcycle was involved in 2009.

-In 2009, motorcyclists accounted for nearly 15 percent of all traffic accident-related fatalities although they account for such a small number of registered vehicles.

-Nationwide, there were nearly 4,500 people who died in motorcycle accidents in 2009.

-Motorcyclists are nearly 40 percent more likely than the occupant of a passenger vehicle to die in an accident.

The month of May serves as the most deadly time on our roadways for motorcycle accidents. As the weather warms up, motorcyclists hit the open road. For this reason, the Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month aims to help bring motorcycle safety to the forefront before it’s too late. Be careful out there and keep an eye out for motorcyclists.

Safety Tips for Motorists to Help Keep Motorcyclists Safe:

-Look twice before making a move in traffic.

-Never tailgate a motorcycle.

-Never share a lane with a motorcycle.

-Remember that motorcyclists follow the same rules and regulations as every other driver.

-Remember that motorcycles’ turn signals aren’t self-canceling.

-Never tailgate motorcyclists.

-Remember that they swerve in their lanes to avoid road debris and other hazards. They’re not just driving recklessly.

By putting more emphasis on safe driving habits, drivers of all kinds can help to reduce the risks of accidents not only for motorcyclists by for all types of drivers. Use the month of May to not only focus on the safety of motorcyclists, but to focus on the safety of everyone on our roadways.

More Blog Entries:

More Fatal Car Accidents in Alabama in 2010 than Previous Year, Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog, December 20, 2011