North Carolina Motorcycle Safety

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in North Carolina, which offers opportunities for us to recognize and prevent biker accidents on our highways. This campaign also reminds motorists to share the road and watch closely for motorcycles and riders.

In 2021, the national fatality rate for motorcyclists was almost 24 times that of passenger vehicles. The same year, 5,932 motorcyclists were killed, which equaled 14% of all traffic fatalities — the highest number since data collection on fatal crashes began in 1975. Statewide, motorcyclist fatalities represented 13.8% of all North Carolina traffic fatalities in 2021, a 12.5% increase from 2020.

These devastating statistics show the importance of improving safety for bikers during May’s Motorcycle Awareness Month campaigns and all year.

North Carolina began a Highway Safety Program to urges motorcyclists and other drivers to share the road responsibly.

Motorcyclists can protect themselves from accidents and prevent becoming a statistic by following these safety tips:

• Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear;
• Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed;
• Use hand and turn signals at every lane change or turn;
• Wear brightly colored clothes, gear, and reflective tape to increase visibility;
• Obey the posted speed limit; and
• Never ride distracted or impaired.

Other drivers also must learn to see motorcyclists on the road and respect these bikers’ rights to ride safely. You don’t need to wait until May’s morotcycle awareness campaigns to practice roadway safety. Follow these tips to improve North Carolina’s motorcycle safety:

• Share the road. Motorcyclists have the right to a full lane;
• Stay alert and be aware that motorcycles can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spot, so take an extra moment to thoroughly check traffic when changing lanes, especially at intersections;
• Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic;
• Keep a safe distance by allowing more following space — three to four seconds — behind motorcycles;
• Be cautious, as not all turn signals on a motorcycle are self-canceling, thus some riders sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change;
• Obey the posted speed limit; and
• Never drive distracted or impaired.

To help further Governor Cooper’s initiative, BikeSafe North Carolina invites every motorcyclist to participate in a free “Rider Skills Day” class that offers an assessment of current driving skills and advises riders on ways to make their biking experiences safer and more enjoyable.

At Miller Law Group, we know clients facing injuries from a motorcycle accident or the negligence of another individual face a difficult road to recovery. We are here to help. Allow us to focus on the legal process so that you and your family can focus on healing. Contact us if you need to speak to a caring attorney if you or someone you love has suffered an injury as the result of another’s negligence.