FEWER TEXAS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN 2012

Texas saw a slight reduction in the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents last year.

Fewer Texas motorcycle accident fatalities in 2012

During the summer months, many Texans enjoy taking to the road on their motorcycles. When riding a motorcycle, however, it is critical that people take proper safety precautions to avoid dangerous collisions with other motor vehicles.

Recently, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents in the state actually declined in 2012. The reduction was small -- 488 people were killed in such crashes in 2011, while there were 460 fatalities in 2012.

Although the six percent decline was not large, it was a rare occasion, as the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents has tended to rise steadily in recent decades. In fact, since 2004, the number of motorcycle collision fatalities in Texas has risen by a staggering 56 percent overall.

Motorcycle accidents are of particular concern in Texas and across the country due to the high rate of injuries and fatalities following such collisions -- practically 90 percent of such collisions lead to either personal injuries or death.

Consequently, experts are focusing on ways to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents that occur annually and further reduce the number of fatalities caused by such collisions.

Protect yourself from a dangerous motorcycle accident in Texas

In Texas, the Department of Transportation has taken steps to help protect motorcyclists on the road. For instance, it has initiated public awareness campaigns to encourage other motorists to be more aware of the motorcyclists on the road. The Texas Department of Transportation has encouraged drivers to "Look Twice" and "Share the Road" with motorcyclists.

In addition, the Federal Highway Administration has been researching the most common causes of motorcycle accidents for decades. It plans to release the results of the Motorcycle Crash Causation Study in 2015, after examining information from a minimum of 280 collisions.

Across the country, the number of people killed in motorcycle accidents more than doubled from 1997 to 2009. In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration reported that 4,462 people across the country were killed in such collisions.

Motorcyclists can also take proactive measures to protect themselves on the road. One of the best solutions is to always wear a helmet while riding, as they can reduce the severity of injuries and even prevent death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation to cover the damage caused in the collision. Seek the advice of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to ensure your rights are protected.

Allstate Installs Permanent Warning Signs to Promote Motorcycle Safety at Dangerous Intersections in Dallas

These signs will be permanently installed today in Grand Prairie, Texas at the corner of E. Main St. and 14th St.

DALLAS – In an effort to help standardize warning signs for motorcycle safety and help reduce the number of motorcycle crashes at intersections involving other vehicles, Allstate Insurance Company announced earlier this month plans to permanently install motorcycle warning signs in more than 30 U.S. cities this year. Currently, there is no standard sign for motorcycle awareness.

The yellow, diamond shaped warning sign was created following two years of development, which included 140 temporary installations in various U.S. cities between 2010 and 2011.  The signs were designed to establish a standardized warning device that can be used by any local or state agency and would be recognizable to riders and motorists across the country.  Simply reading, “Watch for Motorcycles,” the sign was developed by Allstate as part of its “Once is Never Enough” (ONE) program – an awareness campaign that encourages people to look twice for motorcycles at intersections – and are being donated and installed  in Dallas to help prevent motorcycle crashes in the future.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there were 569 crashes involving a motorcyclist in Dallas County in 2010, and of those crashes, 35 percent occurred at intersections.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 46 percent of all multi-vehicle crashes occur at intersections, oftentimes as a result of a vehicle turning left, impeding the motorcyclist’s right-of-way.

[If you've been involved in a motorcycle accident, contact Texas Biker Lawyer]

“It’s for all of us who share the road to remember to always look twice at intersections, especially on our crowded roads,” said Dusty Wallace, Allstate Agent.  “The addition of these motorcycle warning signs will be a great reminder to help keep everyone safe.”

Through its ONE program, Allstate works with local traffic authorities – like TxDOT – to identify dangerous intersections for riders and then donates and installs warning signs at the determined locations to increase awareness of motorcycles.

The signs will be permanently installed today in Grand Prairie, Texas at the corner of E. Main St. and 14th St.  Additional signs will be installed in Dallas during the coming weeks.

In honor of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, Allstate is also encouraging people throughout the month of May to take the ONE Pledge – committing to look twice for motorcycles at intersections – and share with at least ONE other person to spread the message. For every pledge shared, Allstate will donate ONE dollar toward the creation and installation of more “Watch for Motorcycles” signs at dangerous intersections across the country. To take the ONE Pledge and help make our roads a safer place to ride, visit Facebook.com/AllstateMotorcycle.

Now in its fourth year, Allstate’s ONE program has evolved from general motorcycle awareness education, to installing temporary warning signs at dangerous intersections in more than 30 cities over the past two years, to the permanent installations of the new warning signs promoting motorcycle safety.

*The Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows 46 percent of all multi-vehicle motorcycle fatalities (5,746 out of 12,571 fatalities from 2006-2010) occurred at intersections.


***FACT SHEET***
Dallas County Crash Statistics
Provided by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

• According to TxDOT, there were 569 motorcycle crashes documented in Dallas County in 2010
• Of the documented crashes, 33 resulted in a fatality (6 percent)
• In nearly two-thirds of the motorcycle crashes, another vehicle was involved (362 out of 569)
• According to national figures from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Encyclopedia, 54 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes were multi-vehicle crashes
• Thirty-five percent of all motorcycle crashes occurred at intersections (199 of 569)
• The goal of Once is Never Enough (ONE) is to prevent motorcycle collisions with other vehicles at intersections
• In 2010, more than half of the Dallas County motorcycle crashes (312 of 569) took place in Dallas, and 10 percent (56 of 569) occurred in Irving

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(Allstate Press Release, Beaman & Taylor,  May 29, 2012)

TxDOT: Motorcyclists dying in record numbers

McALLEN, Texas — Former McAllen firefighter Ronaldo "Ronnie" Gomez considers himself one of the lucky ones.

In May 2008, a suspected drunk driver clipped him as he turned his motorcycle at the intersection of North 10th Street and Trenton Road.

He sustained a punctured lung, broken ribs, a broken eye socket, a broken nose and hip injuries. And the lower portion of his left leg would be amputated.

But he survived.

"I was in bad shape," Gomez recalled. "The doctor said that if it wasn't for the physical condition that I was in — a condition you have to keep up when you're a firefighter — I might have not come out of it."

The 28-year veteran firefighter would have to learn how to walk again with a prosthesis; his injuries would force him to retire.

"It's usually the guy that you don't see that gets you," he said, reflecting on the wreck during a recent interview.

Experts agree.

The two places where serious motorcycle collisions commonly occur are at intersections and when changing lanes, Texas Department of Transportation officials said.

The agency launched a "Share the Road" campaign in April in part to highlight a dire trend: Motorcyclists are dying in record numbers, and if aggressive steps to promote safety on the road are not taken, the statewide death toll could double within four years, according to a TxDOT news release.

Motorcyclists and their passengers accounted for 14 percent of the state's traffic deaths with 434 fatalities in 2009, the year for which the most recent statistics were available, according to TxDOT. More than 5,800 others were also seriously injured that year.

The 60-year-old Gomez, who began riding motorcycles when he was 15, noted two key survival factors: Experience and training, he said, will help motorcyclists learn how to better maneuver their bikes during heavy traffic, hazardous weather and emergency situations.

But there has been a dramatic increase in the number of new motorcyclists on the roadways, which might mean more inexperienced drivers. The number of motorcycles in Texas alone has more than doubled to 422,815 in the last decade and is expected to double again in the next four years, according to TxDOT.

Rising gasoline prices may be one of the driving forces behind the spike.
"We know that 66 percent of motorcycle crashes result in death or serious injury for the motorcyclist," said Carol Rawson, TxDOT's Traffic Operations director. "As more and more people turn to motorcycles for affordable transportation and recreation, it's more important than ever to remind drivers to look twice for motorcycles."

At least three people from the Rio Grande Valley have died in collisions since the beginning of the year, including Edcouch-Elsa School Board President Benigno "Benny" Layton, who was involved in a single-vehicle accident near San Antonio.

Layton was wearing a helmet at the time of the wreck, but even with the protective gear, drivers are still vulnerable because motorcycles don't have seatbelts, which increases the risk of ejection.

Under Texas law, all riders under the age of 21 are required to wear a helmet when operating a motorcycle. But riders 21 and older may choose to ride without one if they have completed a safety course or are covered by an applicable insurance plan.

The Department of Public Safety location in McAllen does not offer any training courses, but there are at least two other locations where riders can look for guidance — Edinburg's Coastal Cycle Academy, which meets at the University of Texas-Pan American's parking lot, and Harlingen's Texas State Technical College, 1902 North Loop 499. The courses are designed to help both new students and more experienced drivers, as well.

Despite his wreck, Gomez continues to ride — on a slightly modified three-wheeled motorcycle with his firefighter riding club, the Dragon Slayers.

But he offers a word of caution.

"I have friends that said to me, `I have a bike and I saw your accident and I don't trust myself with it,'" Gomez said. "If you have any negative thoughts about riding, don't get on it because you have to have a clear mind when you ride.

"You have to be in the right mindset."

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Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7585759.html
By Naxiely Lopez, The Monitor

The Cole Legal Group Promotes “Sharing the Road” with Motorcycles By Joining Efforts with State and Federal Partners

May Proclaimed Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

[Dallas, Tx] – Motorcyclist fatalities have steadily increased over the past decade. In fact, there was a 2 percent increase in fatalities from 5,174 in 2007, to 5,290 in 2008.

That’s why The Cole Legal Group announced today that it is joining with other federal, State and local highway safety, law enforcement, and motorcycle organizations in proclaiming May as “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.”  All motorists and other road users are reminded to safely “share the road” with motorcycles and to be extra alert to help keep motorcyclists safe.  Motorcyclists are reminded to make themselves visible to other motorists.  All road users are reminded to never drive, walk or bicycle while distracted.

“As the weather improves, more and more motorcyclists are hitting the roads,” said local biker friendly lawyer, David Cole. “And with that in mind, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers of all vehicles, including SUVs, passenger cars or trucks, need to be extra attentive and make sure you ‘share the road.’  A motorcycle is one of the smallest vehicles on our roads, often hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. Everyone needs to aggressively look for them.”

It’s crucial that motorists and bicyclists always make visual checks for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.  Pedestrians should also scan for motorcyclists who might be hidden by other traffic.

“Motorcyclists have responsibilities, too,” Cole said. “They should follow the rules of the road, be alert to other drivers, never ride while impaired or distracted, and always wear a Department of Transportation-compliant helmet and other protective gear.”

Cole said that a motorcyclist is much more vulnerable than a passenger vehicle occupant in the event of a crash.  He said that research  from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in traffic crashes.

David Cole offered several tips for drivers to help keep motorcyclists safe on our roadways:

• Remember, the motorcycle is a vehicle with all of the rights and privileges of any other motor vehicle on the roadway.  Always allow a motorcyclist the full lane width—never try to share a lane;
• Always make a visual check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections;
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic;
• Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle – motorcycle signals are often not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Wait to be sure the motorcycle is going to turn before you proceed;
• Allow more following distance, three or four seconds, when behind a motorcycle so the motorcyclist has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. And don’t tailgate. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.
• Never drive while distracted. 

Davide Cole said motorcyclists can increase their safety by:

• Avoiding riding in poor weather conditions;
• Wearing brightly colored protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet;
• Using turn signals for every turn or lane change, even if the rider thinks no one will see it;
• Combining hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to themselves;
• Using reflective tape and stickers to increase conspicuity; and
• Positioning themselves in the lane where they will be most visible to other drivers.
• Never driving while impaired. 

Our message to all drivers and motorcyclists is: make this the first year in recent years when motorcycle fatalities do not increase. Help to share in the responsibility and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”