Gas Prices Fueling Motorcycle and Scooter Sales: Safety at Issue

August 19, 2011

Inflated gas prices have negatively impacted everyone's budget. Many commuters have looked to hybrids and fuel-efficient cars to save money. However, a growing population of people has gone the fun and affordable route of moped, scooter or motorcycle ownership.

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) reported a 7.2 percent increase in all motorcycle and scooter sales during the first quarter of 2011. BMW Motorrad is enjoying a 7.3 percent increase in BMW motorcycle sales compared to last year, while Honda scooter and motorcycle sales in May alone experienced a six percent boost. The ever-popular Harley-Davidson line continues to perform well, too.

While most welcome the expansion of the biker community, some of the new two-wheeled riders are learning what experienced bikers have known for years: motorcyclists face a heightened risk of accident and injury, usually through no fault of their own.

Motorcycle Accidents both Frequent and Fatal

Motorcycle accidents killed 4,595 people in the U.S. during 2009, including 161 motorcyclists in New York, as stated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While these numbers show a slight - yet promising - decrease from figures in 2008, motorcycle-safety advocates fear a potential surge in motorcycle accidents this year for several reasons.

One reason motorcycle and scooter accidents may rise in 2011 is straightforward: there are more two-wheeled vehicles on the road than ever before. As discussed earlier, motorbike industry sales have risen substantially. Logic foretells that a greater number of bikes on the road will lead to more accidents. By that same train of thought, the boost in cycle sales is leading to an increase in inexperienced riders, another factor in many bike crashes.

Many of the new motorcyclists and scooter riders are entering the motorcycling community in sensible fashion, by obtaining a motorcycle endorsement or permit and wearing a DOT-approved helmet. Wisely, a record number of bikers are enrolling in motorcycle safety classes such as the RiderCourse offered by the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program. However, the saying 'you can't teach experience' is certainly true in motorcycling. Whether it's anticipation of a car turning in front of you, or knowing that in a particular situation the biker's best move is to 'lie' his or her bike down, only so much can be learned in the classroom or controlled environment of a cone-filled parking lot.

Yet, another rising concern in the motorcycle community is distracted driving. While bikers 'mind the road' and have less driving distractions - for obvious reasons - than their 'caged' counterparts, motorcyclists stand the most to lose from other drivers' negligence. In just the two or three seconds a driver may avert his eyes from the road to fiddle with the radio, GPS, or cell-phone, a motorcyclist can become the fatal victim of a distracted driver, especially since a motorcycle is typically less visible than other vehicles.

Of course, past or present, the single greatest cause of motorcycle accidents is a passenger motorist's failure to 'look for' and 'see' a motorcycle. Whether the driver is young or old, or in a car, truck or taxi, thousands of motorists kill bikers each year by being completely unaware of the presence of a motorcycle. This common brand of motorcycle crash usually occurs at an intersection and involves the driver of a passenger vehicle negligently making a left or right turn into the motorcyclist's lane. In these accidents, there is usually very little a biker can do to avoid or lessen the severity of the collision. While the motorcyclist is often helpless in these situations, the good news is that other motorists have an easy opportunity to make prevent these car-v-motorcycle crashes, by practicing motorcycle awareness.

With Growth Comes Opportunity

You have probably seen the yellow bumper sticker reading, "Start Seeing Motorcyclists!" While its message has been around for decades, it has largely gone unheeded. However, the soaring popularity of motorcycles and scooters has given four-wheeled motorists a renewed opportunity to truly internalize its message, now that bikers are largely "in sight, in mind".

With the recent rise in motorcycle ridership almost everyone knows a biker, whether it be a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker. These people are often valued members of their neighborhoods and communities; they help put a face and personality behind biker-safety campaigns and practices. These are the people that could prove invaluable in raising motorcycle awareness to motorists in cars, taxis, buses and semis.

But Change Doesn't Happen Overnight

While motorcyclists, government agencies and biker-safety advocates continue their efforts to curb fatal motorcycle accidents, riders must continue to exercise extreme caution. There are far too many bikers killed each year in New York, and a substantial improvement will take years - if not decades - to achieve. In the meantime, motorcycles will continue to be on the losing end of collisions with passenger vehicles.

If you or someone you love is injured or killed in a motorcycle accident you should contact an experienced NY personal injury attorney. While recovering damages from a lawsuit or settlement won't heal your wounds or replace your lost loved one, it can justly shift the financial burden of a motorcycle accident from the victim to the at-fault party. Contact a motorcycle accident attorney today to learn about your legal rights to recourse under New York law.

Article provided by The Law Offices of Daniel A. Kalish
Visit us at www.personalinjurylawnewyork.com