Patrol releases motorcycle safety study
Tuesday, June 10, 2008COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Highway Patrol is releasing a study on motorcycle fatalities this week while launching Ride Smart – a comprehensive motorcycle rider safety/education campaign. Media briefings were held in six areas of the state today to illustrate safe riding techniques and common mistakes that can lead to deadly collisions. Members of the Highway Patrol Motor Units led the demonstrations.
As gas prices continue rising, more people are turning to more cost-efficient transportation – including motorcycles and mopeds. This can increase the chances of deadly collisions often due to lack of training on the part of the motorcyclist or because of motorists not safely interacting with motorcycles. So far this year, however, fatalities are down (49) compared to last year at this time (56).
In September 2006, the Highway Patrol released results from an internal study of Patrol-investigated motorcycle fatalities. The goal was to find trends that would help the Patrol better tailor its education and enforcement efforts. The committee analyzed motorcycle fatalities from January 2005 until June 2006. The current study picks up that previous study and runs from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007. Both studies showed similar trends: Middle-age males riding without a helmet were overrepresented in the study.
The department also begins its “Ride Smart” campaign this week working with motorcycle dealerships to distribute a DVD safety presentation and brochure, posters and banners encouraging bikers to seek more training before getting on the road.
“This campaign is especially geared toward first-time riders with limited training,” said Highway Patrol Colonel Harry Stubblefield, interim commander of the division. “We launched this effort after watching a steady incline in motorcycle fatalities and collisions in recent years. With rising gas prices, we know that motorcycle traffic is likely to continue increasing, making this safety message more critical than ever.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Highway Patrol a $75,000 grant to educate bikers about safety. DVDs, posters and banners will be distributed to dealerships across the state and given to those who purchase motorcycles – especially first-time riders. Material will also be distributed during Bike Weeks, at Fairs and other bike rallies and venues.
Motorcycle riders and special interest groups, instructors, and law enforcement were consulted and used in producing the video. Their feedback was used to craft a message that the department felt would resonate with bikers. The DVD is meant to leave the viewer feeling overwhelmed about the wealth of skills and information needed before riding, which in turn the department hopes will encourage riders to seek more training.
“We see too many collisions where the driver had only recently purchased a motorcycle and made deadly mistakes that likely could have been avoided through better training,” said Sgt. Jimmy Strait, who appears in the video. Strait is a trooper/supervisor with the Patrol’s Motorcycle Unit. He offers some of the tools of the trade in the video that keep law enforcement officers safe on their bikes.
The Highway Patrol is also working to educate motorists about safely interacting with bikers on the roadway.
The primary causation factors in the recent study include speed and failure to yield – either on the part of the motorist or motorcycle. One of the points emphasized in the safety DVD is that deadly collisions are often single-vehicle. In fact, 49 of the 99 collisions in the recent study were single vehicle.
Other highlights from the study of 99 fatalities include:
91 of those killed were male;
56 victims were over the age of 41;
73 were not wearing helmets;
Speed, failure to yield right of way, and driving under the influence were the leading causations for the collisions;
The greatest number of fatal crashes – 37 -- occurred in the Upstate area.
72 fatalities occurred on secondary or SC primary highways.
The majority of collisions occurred from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. (27 deaths) on Saturdays (32 deaths).
To compare to the last study, log onto: http://www.scdps.org/oea/nr2006/092106.htm.
The SC Department of Public Safety has a Motorcycle Safety Task Force that meets regularly to review facts and trends and make recommendations regarding safety issues. The next meeting will be July 18 at SCDPS.
