Friday, May 5, 2023
National Motorcycle Awareness Month
If you like two wheels, May is the month for you. Not only is it National Bike Month, it’s also National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
In 2021, there were 5,932 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Not only is that an increase of 6.3 percent from 2020 when 5,579 fatalities of motorcyclists were recorded, it’s the highest number of motorcyclists killed since at least 1975 – almost 50 years!
Motorcyclist fatalities account for some 14 percent of all traffic fatalities. Without the benefit of being protected by being inside of an automobile like drivers, motorcyclists are more likely to suffer serious injuries or die in traffic crashes.
Wearing the right motorcycle helmet can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Consider wearing a Department of Transportation-compliant helmet because they are more likely to protect your head. The NHTSA offers some guidance on how to choose the right one for you. The agency reported less than two-thirds (65 percent) Department of Transportation-compliant helmet use in 2021. The percentage of known unhelmeted motorcyclists killed in New Jersey was 11 percent, among the lowest in the U.S. and far lower than some other states that reported more than 50 and 60 percent.
Whether you’re a motorcycle rider or an automobile driver, you can learn more about keeping motorcyclists, and those around them, safe by visiting the NHTSA’s Motorcycle Safety page.
Motorcycle Safety Tips