North Carolina is one of the greatest places in the country to ride a motorcycle because of its winding roads and scenery. For that reason, numerous motorcyclists flock to the state each summer. The state also has many residents that ride, either as their main form of transportation or for fun.
In fact, the Division of Motor Vehicles reports that there are more than 179,000 registered motorcycles in North Carolina and more than 443,000 drivers have either a motorcycle endorsement license or a learner’s permit.
While motorcycles make up less than 3 percent of all vehicles on the state’s roadways, close to 50 percent of highway fatalities in the state involve them, the assistant director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program said at a motorcycle safety rally last month coordinated by BikeSafe NC.
He added that, at the time, there had already been 52 motorcyclist fatalities in the state.
At the safety event, many speakers echoed the same sentiment: that many motorcycle accidents could be prevented if all drivers on the state’s roadways do their part to put safety first.
The assistant director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program said one of the main things vehicle drivers can do is to provide motorcyclists with enough room by adjusting their timing when changing lanes or making other maneuvers on the highway.
Motorcyclists can also help keep themselves safe by wearing protective clothing and gear, including a helmet, and making sure their bikes are in working order with functioning lights, sufficient fluid levels and properly inflated tires.
Another step motorcyclists should consider is taking BikeSafe classes.
Unfortunately, when an accident does occur, the motorcyclist is often unfairly blamed. For that reason, injured motorcyclists need to be represented by experienced personal injury lawyers who can make sure that the truth is revealed and the motorcyclists are justly compensated.