NORTH DAKOTA,

OFF THE WIRE
Fatalities on motorcycles reaches all-time high in North Dakota
JENNY MICHAEL, Bismarck Tribune
The number of motorcycle deaths in the year 2010 is already a record in North Dakota. A key recommendation for surviving in a motorcycle accident is wearing a helmet says the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
Fatalities for motorcycle riders in North Dakota have reached an all-time high so far this year.
So far in 2010, 15 people have died while riding motorcycles on roads in the state. That beats the previous one-year high of 13, set in 2008, and more than doubles last year’s total of seven deaths.
Michael Jay, executive director of ABATE of North Dakota, is bothered by the number of deaths, particularly because many of the fatalities occurred in single motorcycle crashes. Those types of crashes typically are caused by human error, such as speeding or alcohol use, he said.
“It’s a disturbing trend,” Jay said.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Jody Skogen said single motorcycle crashes historically have been the most common type of crash that result in fatalities.
Many of the people killed have been older than 40, Jay said. He said many people have picked up motorcycle riding after a 20-year break from the hobby, and many of them have not participated in training programs when they start riding again. Skogen said another problem is that people in that age range have plenty of experience on the road, just not necessarily experience at the helm of a motorcycle.
Skogen said the crashes that caused fatalities this year have many common correlatives — speed, alcohol and failure to yield on the part of the motorcyclists and other drivers. Over confidence and inexperience on the part of motorcycle riders also is common, he said.
“For the motorcycle operators and passenger vehicles, driving defensively is the key,” Skogen said. “The motorcyclist may have some over confidence that is contributing to the crashes. The motorcycle season is short (in North Dakota), so gaining experience on driving a motorcycle can be slow, because there just isn’t enough time to gain that experience.”
He said another common thing in fatal motorcycle crashes is that riders weren’t wearing helmets, including about 60 percent of the people killed this year.
“Motorcycles rarely give you second chances, and that helmet is a crucial element of increasing your chances of surviving a crash,” Skogen said.
The Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department, with the North Dakota Safety Council and North Dakota Highway Patrol, awarded three motorcyclists who did wear their helmets the “Saved By The Helmet” award Friday morning. Lt. Gary Schaffer said Penny House, Michael Roberdeau and Catherine Roberdeau survived a crash on Oct. 1, which they credit to wearing helmets.
Schaffer said House lost control of her motorcycle after hitting debris on the road during a group ride southeast of Bismarck on Moffit Road around 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 1. She rode into a ditch and was thrown from her motorcycle. The riders behind her, in a group of more than 15 motorcycles, began taking evasive actions. The Roberdeaus laid down their bike when they lost control, resulting in injuries to both of them.
Schaffer said the crashes resulted in “serious trauma” to their helmets. Without the helmets, the riders said they likely would not have survived, he said.
“They firmly believe if not for the helmets at least one of them would not have lived,” he said about the Roberdeaus.
Jay said safety gear makes a rider safer, but the more important thing is to prevent crashes from occurring in the first place. Learning how to control the motorcycle, staying alert to changing conditions and possible dangers and making sure motorcycles are properly maintained can help decrease crashes.
“I’m concerned anytime there’s a crash, because unfortunately, there are very few crashes that are attributed to accidents,” he said.
Jay advises people to participate in training courses when they begin riding, when they get new motorcycles and if they need a refresher. Riders need to be aware of their surroundings and be vigilant in looking out for themselves in a “complex traffic environment” featuring more distracted drivers, he said.
“Motorcyclists need to start taking care of themselves. They need to realize they are in an inherently dangerous sport of riding motorcycles,” Jay said.