A person who loves to ride on a motorcycle may well take great care to learn how to maneuver their bike properly and safely. They may also pay close attention to traffic signals, road signs and the law so as to ride responsibly, especially when sharing the road with other vehicles. Unfortunately, drivers of other vehicles may not always return the consideration.
A motorcyclist naturally has less protection around them than does a person in a car, truck or other vehicle. This puts them at a significant disadvantage if or when an accident with another vehicle occurs.
Georgia’s motorcyclist fatalities
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 154 motorcyclists were killed in crashes across in 2018, a jump from the 139 deaths that occurred in 2017.
People of all ages share the risks of riding a motorcycle in Georgia. In the five years spanning 2014 through 2018, 247 bikers in their 50s and older died in motorcycle crashes statewide, more than any other age group. Motorcyclists between 20 and 29 years of age accounted for 207 deaths in that time while riders in their 30s and 40s accounted for 138 and 131 fatalities, respectively.
Risks posed by other drivers
Certainly factors like road conditions may impact safety for motorcyclists. However, as explained by MotorBiscuit, many risks to bikers come in the form of other drivers. A person getting out of a parked car, for example, may open their car door into the path of an oncoming rider. Lane changes made without looking for motorcyclists also contribute to many crashes.
