Motorcycle Safety Overview
With motorcycle deaths on Washington roads increasing, we continue our focus on motorcycle safety this month. Several counties around the state have conducted enforcement patrols and we will continue to promote motorcycle safety messages throughout the month. Join us by sharing the social media graphics you can download here. We’ve also provided a fact sheet and messaging you can use in your communications. Finally, www.ItsAFineLine.com provides excellent video training resources for motorcyclists from motorcyclists, and we encourage you to help direct people there to learn more.
Motorcycle safety patrols begin July 9 in Pierce, King, Snohomish, Clark, Yakima, and Spokane Counties
OLYMPIA, WA — More motorcycles travel on Washington’s roads in the summer months than any other time of the year. Unfortunately, summer is also the time when more motorcycle riders are killed or injured in crashes. In an effort to reduce these crashes, increased motorcycle safety patrols start July 9, and run through July 25 in Pierce, King, Snohomish, Clark, Yakima, and Spokane Counties.
The patrols will focus on illegal driving behaviors by both motorcycle riders and other vehicle drivers. Approximately 25 law enforcement agencies in these counties, including the Washington State Patrol, will be working overtime focused on drivers and riders who commit traffic safety violations.
In 2019 and 2020, over 90 motorcycle riders died each year in crashes on Washington’s roads. This was the highest number of motorcycle rider fatalities in a single year in our state since 1982.
“We are concerned about the high number of motorcycle rider deaths and we know that we can all work to prevent these deaths,” said Shelly Baldwin, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “These crashes are preventable.”
These patrols are part of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s (WTSC) motorcycle safety education campaign known as “It’s a Fine Line.” From 2016 through 2020, motorcycles made up just 3 percent of the registered vehicles on Washington’s roads, but accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities (419 of 2,723). While about 2/3 of fatal motorcycle crashes involved another vehicle, illegal and dangerous actions by the rider including speeding, losing control in corners and curves, improper passing, and riding under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs were the main contributing factors cited in these crashes.
“Each summer in our state, we lose 35-40 people to motorcycle crashes, and that’s not acceptable,” Baldwin added. “Drivers can watch out for motorcyclists. Riders can improve their skills through training. All of us can respect speed limits and ride and drive sober.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that motorcycle fatalities across the country decreased .5 percent from 5,038 in 2018 to 5,014 in 2019. Per vehicle mile traveled in 2019, motorcyclists were about 29 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a crash and 4 times more likely to be seriously injured.
The WTSC and participating law enforcement agencies condemn profiling. Trained and commissioned law enforcement officers will be conducting these patrols enforcing traffic violations as defined by Washington State laws.
For training videos and other information on the “It’s A Fine Line” motorcycle safety program in Washington, please visit http://itsafineline.com/
These and all extra law enforcement patrols are part of Target Zero—striving to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030. For more information, visit www.targetzero.com. Additional information on the Washington Traffic Safety Commission can be found on the website, www.wtsc.wa.gov.
https://www.youtube.com/user/itsafinelinewa/videos
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Motorcycle safety patrols begin July 9 in Pierce, King and Snohomish Counties
OLYMPIA, WA — More motorcycles travel on Washington’s roads in the summer months than any other time of the year. Unfortunately, summer is also the time when more motorcycle riders are killed or injured in crashes. In an effort to reduce these crashes, increased motorcycle safety patrols will occur this weekend July 9 through July 11 in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties as part of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s motorcycle safety emphasis campaign running through July 25.
The patrols will focus on illegal driving behaviors by both motorcycle riders and other vehicle drivers. Approximately 40 law enforcement agencies in these counties, including the Washington State Patrol, will be working overtime focused on drivers and riders who commit traffic safety violations.
In 2020, of the 789 crashes involving motorcycles in these three counties, 176 people sustained serious injuries and 37 riders died. This contributed to over 1/3 of all motorcycle rider deaths on Washington’s roads for the year.
“We are concerned about the high number of motorcycle rider deaths and we know that we can all work to prevent these deaths,” said Shelly Baldwin, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “These crashes are preventable.”
“Each summer in our state, we lose 35-40 people to motorcycle crashes, and that’s not acceptable,” Baldwin added. “Drivers can watch out for motorcyclists. Riders can improve their skills through training. All of us can respect speed limits and ride and drive sober.”
These patrols are part of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s (WTSC) motorcycle safety education campaign known as “It’s a Fine Line.” From 2016 through 2020, motorcycles made up just 3 percent of the registered vehicles on Washington’s roads, but accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities (419 of 2,723). While about 2/3 of fatal motorcycle crashes involved another vehicle, illegal and dangerous actions by the rider including speeding, losing control in corners and curves, improper passing, and riding under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs were the main contributing factors cited in these crashes.
The WTSC and participating law enforcement agencies condemn profiling. Trained and commissioned law enforcement officers will be conducting these patrols enforcing traffic violations as defined by Washington State laws.
For training videos and other information on the “It’s A Fine Line” motorcycle safety program in Washington, please visit http://itsafineline.com/
These and all extra law enforcement patrols are part of Target Zero—striving to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030. For more information, visit www.targetzero.com. Additional information on the Washington Traffic Safety Commission can be found on the website, www.wtsc.wa.gov.
https://www.youtube.com/user/itsafinelinewa/videos
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Motorcycle Traffic Deaths Increasing
- Only 3% of all registered vehicles in Washington are motorcycles. But motorcyclists were 15% of total traffic deaths (2016-2020).
- The number of motorcyclist traffic deaths has recently been increasing. In both 2019 and 2020 there were more than 90 motorcyclist traffic deaths, compared to closer to 80 in the three previous years. And there was less traffic on the road in 2020 due to COVID.
Rider Error Causes Crashes
- Motorcycle rider error is the cause of 75% of these fatalities, contrary to common belief that the cause is other motorists.
- Alcohol and drug impairment was a factor in more than half of the fatalities, with marijuana becoming a larger contributing factor in recent years.
- Speeding and lane departure were the contributing factors in half the fatalities involving motorcyclists.
Summer Riding Months are the Deadliest
- Fatal motorcycle crashes tend to occur in July, August and September.
- In the past five years, an average of 40 motorcyclists died on Washington roads during those summer months.
Working Together to Save Lives
Whether operating a motorcycle or car or truck we can all work together on the road to save lives.
Motorcyclists:
- Riders must create their own safety. This includes wearing helmets and other protective gear.
- Always ride sober, operate with safe speeds, be aware of your surroundings.
- Take advantage of training to improve your skills.
Motorists:
- Watch for motorcycles and leave extra space between your vehicle and them.
- Protect yourself and those around you by driving sober, wearing a seatbelt, putting your phone away and respecting the speed limit.
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Sample Social Media Messages & Graphics
The following are sample graphics and related content that we encourage you to use on your organization’s social media. Feel free to adapt for use on your website or customized emails too. Please click on the link below each image to download for posting on Facebook and Twitter.
Riders must create their own safety. Wear a helmet, ride sober, go safe speeds, take advantage of training. https://itsafineline.com/motorcycle-training/
We can all work together to save lives.
Only 3% or all registered vehicles in Washington are motorcycles. But motorcyclists were 15% of total traffic deaths.
There are safety classes that help. Find one near you.
https://itsafineline.com/motorcycle-training/
Video Links
Using short videos is a popular way to reinforce messages important to instilling safe driving practices and behavior for our teen drivers. Feel free to embed in your social media posts, email messages, or on your website. Find more motorcycle safety videos at https://itsafineline.com/
