Tag Archives: motorcycle fatalities

IDOT & ISP Issue Tips For Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

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Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) and the Illinois State Police (“ISP”) launced the “Start Seeing Motorcycles” campaign as part of motorcycle safety awareness month. Start Seeing Motorcycles banners and yard signs will be on display throughout the state, reminding the public to always stay alert for motorcycles.

According to IDOT, there are approximately 150 motorcycle fatalities in Illinois every year. Just 3% of all registered vehicles in Illinois are motorcycles. Despite that low number, 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2023 were motorcycle related. This safety campaign is geared towards curbing that trend.

IDOT and ISP issued the following safety tips for both motorcyclists and drivers, which they hope will make the roads safer for everyone.

For drivers:

  • Look twice before changing lanes or merging into traffic, using your mirrors and glancing over your shoulder. Allow appropriate distance.
  • Allow motorcyclists enough space to maneuver and enough time to adjust if necessary. Traffic, weather and road conditions require motorcyclists to react and maneuver differently than other drivers.
  • Be vigilant. A motorcycle can easily be hidden behind other vehicles. Checking mirrors and blind spots is essential before changing lanes or merging.
  • Use care when driving near a group of motorcyclists. Sharing the road with organized motorcycle groups requires patience and communication. If you need to change lanes or reach an exit, signal your intention early and wait for the riders to create a space. Do not merge in between groups or riders unless there is enough space to do so safely.

For motorcyclists:

  • Wear DOT-compliant gear that increases visibility in traffic in addition to providing protection in the event of a crash. Use bright colors and retro-reflective strips or decals, especially at night. Over-the-ankle boots, gloves, protective jackets, pants and properly fitted helmets with face shields or protective eyewear are all part of a full-gear package.
  • Use lane positioning to increase your visibility. Ride with your headlight on at all times. It’s the law in Illinois. Give yourself space and time to react. Allow room for emergency braking. Make lane changes gradually and expect the unexpected.
  • Ride sober. Motorcycle riding and alcohol don’t mix. Drinking slows your reaction time and affects your balance, coordination and vision.
  • Always signal before changing lanes. Avoid weaving between lanes. Flash your brake light when you are slowing down and before stopping.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a Chicago motorcycle accident, then call the Chicago accident attorneys at the Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

May Is Motorcycle Awareness Month

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Spring is upon us and we are seeing a lot more motorcyclists on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated May as motorcyclist awareness month and are encouraging all motorists to “share the road” with each other.In a press release the NHTSA pointed out that in2014, 4,586 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes, a decrease of 2.3 percent from 2013 (4,692). Those deaths account for 14 percent of the total highway fatalities that year. This decrease in motorcycle fatalities continues to break a tragic trend over the last 17 years, which saw only one other decline in 2009. Injured motorcyclists also decreased from 93,000 in 2013 to 88,000 in 2014 thanks to more and more motorcycle owners using motorcycle helmets to protect themselves from injuries.

To help spread safety awareness, the NHTSA provided some tips on sharing the road:

  • Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic. This allows motorcyclists to anticipate your movement and find a safe lane position.
  • Don’t be fooled by a flashing turn signal on a motorcycle—it may not be self-canceling and the motorcyclist may have forgotten to turn it off. Wait to be sure the rider is going to turn before you proceed.
  • Allow more follow distance – three or four seconds – when following a motorcycle; this gives the motorcycle rider more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. Motorcycle riders may suddenly need to change speed or adjust lane position to avoid hazards such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings, and grooved pavement.
  • Always look for motorcycles by checking your mirrors and blind spots before switching to another lane of traffic.
  • Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width. Though it may seem as if there is enough room in a single lane for a motor vehicle and a motorcycle, looks can be deceiving. Share the road, but not the lane: a motorcyclist needs room to maneuver safely.
  • If you are turning at an intersection, and your view of oncoming traffic is partially obstructed, wait until you can see around the obstruction, sufficiently scan for all roadway users (pedestrians and motorcyclists included), and proceed with caution. Slow your decision-making  process service down at intersections.
  • Road users should never drive, bike, or walk while distracted. Doing so can result in tragic consequences for all on the road, including motorcyclists. If you have been injured by a motorcyclist, its important to seek legal assistance from a motorcycle accident law firm.

The press release also provided safety tips for motorcyclists.

  • Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and use reflective tape and gear to be more visible. NHTSA estimates helmets saved the lives of 1,630 motorcyclists in 2014.
  • Never ride while impaired or distracted—it is not worth the risk of killing or injuring yourself or someone else. Plus, a DUI costs $10,000 on average, and can lead to jail time, loss of your driver’s license, and higher insurance rates, motorcycle accident cases need the best attorney as possible.

Don’t drink and bike and always wear a helmet. This seems like obvious advice. But remember that riding a motorcycle can be a very dangerous way to drive and doing so without a helmet is an incredibly dangerous proposition. If you are on a motorcycle and you leave your head unprotected, you increase your odds for a brain injury tenfold. Further, you are increasing your odds of a fatality. According to the NHTSA’s data inn 2014, 41 percent of fatally injured motorcycle riders and 53 percent of fatally injured motorcycle passengers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash. And as stated above, helmets save thousands of lives every year. If you unfortunately get into an accident, then make sure you are quick to get legal assistance from a professional motorcycle accident attorney. 

Even though Illinois does not require helmet use, I cannot stress how important of a decision it is. I cannot stress how important it is for motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. Recovering compensation for damages after getting in a motorcycle accident can be a complicated process, as insurance carriers may often attempt to get around coverage regulations and deny personal injury compensation on behalf of the at-fault party. Injury victims can get the compensation that they deserve by hiring a lawyer to help them file a claim after a motorcycle accident.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Chicago motorcycle accident or Chicago car crash, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.