Motorcycling for many people in Texas is a way of life. For
others, it is their primary mode of transportation. Still others
just like to take in the beautiful Texas scenery on the weekends
to get away from work. No matter what reason you choose to ride
a motorcycle or moped, you know how much fun riding can be.
Riding a motorcycle is also very serious business and requires
extra concentration and judgment.
In an attempt to reduce fatalities and educate riders in
riding responsibly and SMART, law enforcement agencies across
the metroplex are taking a zero tolerance approach against
unsafe motorcycle riding.
Despite the best prevention efforts, motorcycle crashes do
occur. In a crash, the most important factor for reducing
injuries to a motorcyclist is personal protection. Proper riding
gear can consist of eye protection, leather jackets and pants,
durable gloves, and proper footwear. The most important piece of
protection however is a DOT certified helmet. In Texas helmets
are required on both the rider and passenger unless specific
exemptions are met. According to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle riders who do
not wear helmets are 40% more likely to receive fatal head
injuries than riders who do. In Texas, 63% of the fatal
motorcycle crashes during 2006 involved a rider who was not
wearing a helmet.
Many motorcycle and moped riders are operating without a valid
license. A class M license authorizes the holder of the license
to operate a motorcycle or moped. If a vehicle is determined to
be a moped, the operator must either have the class M, or a
moped license. In 2006 according to NHTSA, 29% of motorcycle
operators involved in fatal crashes in Texas were not properly
licensed.
The failure of motorists to detect motorcycles is the most
frequent cause of crashes for motorcyclists. According to the
Texas Department of Public Safety, more than one half of
motorcycle crashes occur because the driver simply "did not
see the motorcyclist coming." The most common of these is when a
motorist fails to yield right of way to the motorcycle by
turning left in front of them. Motorcyclists need to ride with
extra caution paying notice to what traffic is doing further
down the road ahead of them. Motorcyclists also need to be
aware that many drivers do not see them, and that they need to
ride paying close attention to all of the vehicles surrounding
them.
Riding a motorcycle requires a very high level of concentration,
and judgment. Road conditions can change in an instant; whether
it is rain, oil, sand or an oversized pothole, 100% of a rider's
concentration is always needed. Judging distances, speed, and
braking are just a few of the many things that must also be
accomplished in an instant while riding a motorcycle. With the
amount of focus needed to operate a motorcycle safely, any bit
of impairment may slow reaction times down, which may ultimately
prove to be fatal. According to NHTSA, in 2006, 27% of all
fatally injured motorcycle operators had BAC (blood alcohol
concentration) levels of .08 or higher. An additional 7% had lower
alcohol levels (BAC .01 to .07). While operating a motorcycle,
riders should not consume alcoholic beverages, or ingest any
type of medication which may alter their ability to operate the
motorcycle safely.
As licensed operators of both passenger vehicles and
motorcycles, we must obey
