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What are factors in motorcycle crashes?

Motorcycle riders face greater risk of injury due to the fact that motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles on Georgia roads, and also because motorcyclists are openly exposed to the outside elements, meaning that they bear the brunt of a collision more directly than someone in a car or truck. Because motorcyclists bear such risks, it is important to recognize the factors that contribute to motorcycle wrecks. 

An article run by Forbes reported on recent findings from a report on motorcycle fatalities conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). These findings discovered that in the year 2017, motorcycle deaths decreased by three hundred compared to 2016, but overall motorcycle rider deaths were overrepresented in traffic fatalities. A number of varying factors were described to explain this overrepresentation. 

Distracted driving continues to be a problem. Not paying adequate attention to the road can cause wrecks for any size vehicle, but the GHSA study discovered that in recent years, deaths resulting from distracted driving have been on the rise. For instance, the state of Virginia reported that from 2016 to 2017, the number of distracted motorcyclist deaths had actually doubled. 

The study also found alcohol consumption to be a factor in motorcyclist deaths. While too much alcohol can slow down the reflexes of car and truck drivers, causing them not to react in time to an approaching motorcycle, the GHSA report found that some wrecks were actually caused by motorcyclists who ingested too much alcohol. According to the study, 25% of motorcycle riders who died possessed a blood alcohol content that exceeded legal limits. 

There are important actions a motorcyclist can take to cut down on the risk of an accident, such as refraining from drinking alcohol before riding. The GHSA also recommended that motorcycle riders wear helmets, since wearing a helmet could save the life of a motorcycle rider caught in a collision. Still, other drivers must do their part to watch out for smaller vehicles on the road. This article is written for educational purposes and is not to be taken as legal advice. 

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