SPOKANE, Wash. – May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Federal and state agencies are highlighting the month in the hopes of reducing crashes.
According to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), over 6,200 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2022. A sizable portion of those deaths were preventable according to the DOT.
A disproportionately high amount of motorcycle crashes are a result of the cyclist speeding. In 2022, 35% of fatal motorcycle crashes involved speeding.
Alcohol use is an additional contributing factor to motorcycle deaths. 42% of cyclists killed in 2022 were impaired when they crashed according to the DOT.
Idaho State Police (ISP) will encourage riders to wear helmets and protective gear throughout May. There were 593 motorcycle crashes throughout Idaho in 2023 according to ISP, including 37 associated deaths.
Fatal motorcycle crashes are on the rise in Washington State, where 131 fatalities were recorded in 2022 compared to 89 in 2021 according to the WA Traffic Safety Commission.
In Montana, 29 motorcycle crashes were recorded in 2020. According to the Montana Department of Transportation, fatalities gradually decreased from 2011 to 2020.
Additional information on motorcycle safety can be found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
