May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month-NHTSA
Petaluma Police Department
For Immediate Release
April 27, 2022
Issued by: Jennifer Pritchard, Community Engagement Liaison
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is partnering with Petaluma Police Department to remind all motorists that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. As May approaches with warmer temperatures throughout the country, the unofficial start of the summer road travel season begins. Safe riding and driving practices, and cooperation from all road users, will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways. “ We know that educating the public on motorcycle fatality statistics and safety precautions helps reduce accidents locally,” said Traffic Sergeant Walt Spiller. “We hope to increase our community’s knowledge on the real facts surrounding motorcycle collisions so that all drivers will be more cognizant of driving with, on, or around motorcycles on our streets.”
NHTSA reports that in 2020, there were 5,579 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes, which is an increase from 2019 (5,044). Additionally, an estimated 82,528 motorcyclists were injured, highlighting a 2% increase from 83,814 motorcyclists injured in 2019. Motorcyclist deaths accounted for 14% of the total highway fatalities that year.
Overall, research shows that motorcyclists are significantly overrepresented in traffic crashes and fatalities each year. In fact, in 2020, per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and were four times more likely to be injured. “Anything we can do to support the safety of our local motorcyclists is important, “Traffic Sergeant Spiller said.
One of the primary contributing factors to motorcyclist fatalities is speeding. According to NHTSA, 34% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2020 were speeding, compared to 22% for passenger car drivers, 16% for light-truck drivers, and 7% for large-truck drivers. Motorcycle riders 25 to 29 years old involved in fatal crashes had the highest speeding involvement at 45%. “As motorcycle officers, we understand the desire for speed, but for everyone’s safety, we encourage riders to participate in public track race days at locations such as Sonoma Speedway, not on our local streets,” said Traffic Officer Sholin.
Alcohol impairment also plays a significant role in motorcycle-involved crash fatalities. In 2020, motorcycle riders involved (killed or survived) in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than any other type of motor vehicle driver (27% for motorcycle riders, 23% for passenger car drivers, 19% for light-truck drivers, and 3% for drivers of large trucks). The highest percentages of alcohol-impaired motorcycle rider fatalities in 2020 were in the 45-to-49 age group (35%), followed by the 35-to-39 age group (33%), 50-to-54 age group (32%), and 30-to-34 age group (31%), when compared to other age groups.
Forty-one percent of the 2,158 motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2020 were alcohol-impaired. Forty-five percent of those killed in single-vehicle crashes on weekends were alcohol-impaired. Not surprisingly, Motorcycle riders killed in traffic crashes at night were almost three times more frequently found to be alcohol-impaired than those killed during the day (40% and 14%, respectively).
Safe driving and riding practices from all road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways. Please keep the following tips in mind:
- Drive and ride alcohol and substance-free
- Observe all traffic laws.
- Obey the speed limit.
- Drive and ride defensively.
- Yield to motorcyclists, especially while turning at intersections.
- Avoid distractions that place motorcyclists and other road users at risk.
- Wear high-visibility personal protective gear and DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets.
NHTSA data estimates that helmets saved 1,872 motorcyclists’ lives in 2017 and that 749 more lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn their helmets. Learn how to identify a safe, DOT-compliant helmet at www.nhtsa.gov/motorcycle-safety/choose-right-motorcycle-helmet
Additionally, the completion of a rider education and training course can ensure a safer riding experience. As May nears, we should all commit to safe driving and riding and to our role in ensuring a safe motorcycle-riding environment. For more information on motorcycle safety, visit www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycles. For additional statistics please visit https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/ and search “motorcycle” under Crash Data Publications.
Thank you for increasing public safety with your Petaluma Police Department.
To report unsafe or impaired driving, please call 911.
For non-emergency information, you can call our mainline: 707-778-4372
Address/Location
Petaluma Police Department
969 Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma, CA 94952
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 707-778-4372
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