Motorcyclist fatalities in the United States are expected to have increased by 10 percent in 2015 compared with 2014 (more than 450 additional fatalities), based on preliminary data supplied to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) by the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This increase follows two years in which the number of motorcyclist fatalities decreased. GHSA estimates the total number of motorcyclist fatalities reported by the 50 states and the District of Columbia for 2015 will be 5,010, compared with 4,548 for 2014. This would be only the third year in which more than 5,000 motorcyclist fatalities were recorded. GHSA’s latest survey indicates the following: * States reported a range of decreases, increases, and unchanged number of motorcyclist fatalities in 2015 compared with 2014: - 31 states had increases in motorcyclist fatalities; - 16 states had decreases; and - 3 states and the District of Columbia remained the same. * States differ widely in fatality numbers: - The number of motorcyclist deaths in 2015 ranged from 3 in the District of Columbia to 550 in Florida. - The percentage of all motor vehicle deaths that are motorcyclists varies considerably and indicates the prominence of the problem by state. In 2014, the range was from 7 percent in Mississippi and North Dakota to 26 percent in Hawaii. * States use various combinations of engineering, enforcement and education countermeasures to address motorcyclist safety, including targeted traffic enforcement in conjunction with public outreach and education. Many factors contribute to changes in the number of motorcyclist fatalities, including economic conditions, demographics, weather conditions, fuel prices, and the amount of motor vehicle travel. Travel monitoring data published by FHWA indicates that motor vehicle travel by all vehicles increased by 3.5 percent (+107 billion vehicle miles) in 2015 as compared with 20141. Cumulative travel for 2015 (over 3.1 trillion miles) was the highest number of vehicle miles travelled ever reported by FHWA. Many states noted that warmer and drier weather in 2015 led to an extended riding season. The number of motorcycle fatalities is high relative to the mid-1990s when half as many motorcyclist deaths occurred on U.S. roads. In contrast, the annual number of overall traffic fatalities declined by more than 20 percent over the same 20-year period. Motorcycling is a risky form of transportation, especially when combined with factors such as lack of helmet use, speeding, alcohol, and invalid licensure. Motorcycles are less stable than four-wheeled vehicles, and — unlike passenger vehicles — provide no protection when riders are in crashes. Motorcyclists are susceptible to serious injury in collisions with larger motor vehicles, which are prone to violate motorcyclists’ right of way because of the smaller visual target they present. Helmet use laws covering all motorcyclists in the 32 states that lack them could save many lives. In Michigan, which saw a 23 percent increase in motorcyclist fatalities, state highway safety officials noted the repeal of Michigan’s all-rider helmet law in 2012 has been a factor in a portion of the increase in fatalities to motorcyclists, due to fewer riders wearing helmets, which decreases the chances of surviving a crash. Even in states with helmet use laws, not all specify that helmets should be DOT-compliant, meeting federal safety standards. This requirement could also improve enforceability of helmet laws and the level of protection offered by helmets. One favorable trend is the increasing availability of antilock brakes, which have been shown to decrease fatal motorcycle crashes by preventing a motorcycle’s wheels from locking during braking and assisting with maintaining the stability of the motorcycle. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting