Illinois State Police launch new program to cut motorcycle fatalities
The Illinois State Police have launched a new safety program aimed at reducing the number of motorcycle fatalities for the 2009 riding season.
With the warmer weather approaching people are getting ready to get on their motorcycles. Officers are targeting safety of motorcyclists and license violations in different ways, including roadside safety checks and directed patrols.
Wearing a helmet and other equipment such as gloves and heavy boots is important. Although a motorcyclist is not legally required to wear a helmet in Illinois, authorities strongly encourage the use of helmets.
In a 2006 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4810 motorcyclists were killed. Of the 4810, 752 people would have survived their accidents had they been wearing helmets. Overall, 1658 motorcyclists were saved because they were wearing helmets. The Illinois Department of Transportation reported that in 2007, of the motorcyclists killed in accidents, 80 percent of them would have survived had they been wearing helmets. In the same year, motorcycle accidents account for 12 percent off all fatalities involving motorized vehicles.
Another factor in motorcycle accident fatalities is alcohol. According to the NHTSA, in 2006, nationally, 41 percent of motorcyclists who were killed in road accidents, had blood alcohol levels of .08 or higher.
In Illinois 44 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2007, had consumed alcohol prior to getting on their motorcycles. A majority of the crashes involving fatalities result from the motorcyclists' failure to properly negotiate a curve because of alcohol-impaired balance and coordination.
IDOT also reported that in 2007, of the motorcyclists killed on Illinois roads, only 74 percent were properly licensed. Nationally, 25% of motorcyclists killed in 2006, were riding with an invalid license.
Drinking and driving laws, licensing laws and traffic laws are the same for motocycles as it is for automobiles.
