Powerful bikes cause increase in motorcycle accidents

Increased horsepower, older drivers and lighter bikes are causing more deaths than ever in Toledo, Ohio and around the country. The number of motorcycle deaths has more than doubled in the past ten years, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as more than 4,500 people die each year in motorcycle accidents, with over 87,000 motorcycle-related injuries. Toledo, Ohio lost nine of its citizens in 2005, while 94 were injured, according to the Toledo Blade. Lightweight motorcycle bodies combined with increased horsepower make up the new models, often called “supersports.” These bikes, some of which have the same horsepower as a Honda Accord but are a fraction of the weight, entice the driver to test the acceleration of the motorcycle. Riding at high speeds, often above the speed limit, puts the bikers at a greater risk of having a crash and causing personal injury to themselves or others. Since an average of 51% of motorcycle riders do not wear helmets, according to the Insurance Institute, many of these fatalities are believed to have been preventable if a helmet was used. Many middle-aged American men are going back to riding motorcycles as they approach retirement. But the cycles they rode 20 or 30 years ago are nothing compared to the high-powered machines on the road today. Often these “born-again” riders underestimate the motorcycles and overestimate their own abilities, causing motorcycle accidents. Even though thirty states, including Ohio, do not mandate helmet use, the importance of the protective gear should not be ignored. Wear your helmet at all times when on a motorcycle, whether as a driver or a passenger. Obey the speed limit and make yourself visible to other vehicles on the roads by staying out of blind spots, using directional indicators and by not swerving in and out of traffic. Keep the roads safe for yourself and other drivers.