April 16, 2010
Manchin Declares May Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month
Law Enforcement from seven West Virginia counties will also participate in national Motorcycle Safety blitz this weekend
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Governor Joe Manchin signed a proclamation Thursday, April 15, 2010, declaring May to be Motorcycle Safety and Awareness month. Local law enforcement and highway safety advocates were on-hand for the proclamation held on the West Side of the State Capitol at noon.
“As a motorcyclist myself, I know the importance of wearing the right clothing and safety gear. The other half of the equation is awareness of automobile drivers who need to watch out for motorcyclists as the weather gets warmer. There will be more of us traveling, and we all need to be mindful of each other and share the road.”
Additionally, as part of a region-wide effort, this weekend, April 17-18, law enforcement in seven West Virginia counties will conduct focused enforcement efforts concentrating on speeding, improper licensure, drinking and riding, and other infractions that are major risks to the safety of motorcyclists. The seven counties included in the blitz are: Doddridge, Monroe, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, and Wood.
In West Virginia last year, 25 people were killed while riding a motorcycle, down over 50% from 2008’s total of 55. According to Joe Tyree, Program Manager of the West Virginia Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program, “Even though motorcycle fatality numbers are down in West Virginia, they are up nationally, and we need to be vigilant in our safety efforts to keep those numbers down.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 5,290 motorcyclists were killed—an increase of 2 percent over the 5,174 who died in 2007. There were 96,000 motorcyclists injured during 2008.
"Motorcycles make up less than three percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S., and less than one percent of vehicle miles traveled. Yet in 2008, they accounted for 14 percent of total traffic fatalities, 17 percent of all occupant fatalities, and four percent of all occupants injured," said Elizabeth A. Baker, Ph.D., NHTSA’s Region 3 Regional Administrator.
"Per mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash," Dr. Baker said. "Unlike passenger cars, there's no protection on a motorcycle, which greatly increases the likelihood of being seriously injured or killed in an incident."
Additional information may be obtained by calling Joe Tyree of the WV Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program at 304-558-1041 or 304-926-3819.
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Manchin Declares May Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month
Law Enforcement from seven West Virginia counties will also participate in national Motorcycle Safety blitz this weekend
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Governor Joe Manchin signed a proclamation Thursday, April 15, 2010, declaring May to be Motorcycle Safety and Awareness month. Local law enforcement and highway safety advocates were on-hand for the proclamation held on the West Side of the State Capitol at noon.
“As a motorcyclist myself, I know the importance of wearing the right clothing and safety gear. The other half of the equation is awareness of automobile drivers who need to watch out for motorcyclists as the weather gets warmer. There will be more of us traveling, and we all need to be mindful of each other and share the road.”
Additionally, as part of a region-wide effort, this weekend, April 17-18, law enforcement in seven West Virginia counties will conduct focused enforcement efforts concentrating on speeding, improper licensure, drinking and riding, and other infractions that are major risks to the safety of motorcyclists. The seven counties included in the blitz are: Doddridge, Monroe, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, and Wood.
In West Virginia last year, 25 people were killed while riding a motorcycle, down over 50% from 2008’s total of 55. According to Joe Tyree, Program Manager of the West Virginia Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program, “Even though motorcycle fatality numbers are down in West Virginia, they are up nationally, and we need to be vigilant in our safety efforts to keep those numbers down.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 5,290 motorcyclists were killed—an increase of 2 percent over the 5,174 who died in 2007. There were 96,000 motorcyclists injured during 2008.
"Motorcycles make up less than three percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S., and less than one percent of vehicle miles traveled. Yet in 2008, they accounted for 14 percent of total traffic fatalities, 17 percent of all occupant fatalities, and four percent of all occupants injured," said Elizabeth A. Baker, Ph.D., NHTSA’s Region 3 Regional Administrator.
"Per mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash," Dr. Baker said. "Unlike passenger cars, there's no protection on a motorcycle, which greatly increases the likelihood of being seriously injured or killed in an incident."
Additional information may be obtained by calling Joe Tyree of the WV Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Program at 304-558-1041 or 304-926-3819.
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