A 25-year old man was riding his motorcycle with a 26-year old female passenger when he lost control and it slid into oncoming traffic. The man was headed northbound on Bass Lake Road coming toward a 25 mph curve south of Magnolia Hills Drive.
Authorities say that he approached the curve at an unsafe speed and while trying to quickly slow down, he lost control of the motorcycle and it fell on its side.
The bike then slid into the southbound lane where it hit a Honda Accord. The Accord tried to avoid the collision but was unable to. The collision forced the man and woman to the right southbound shoulder.
The woman was treated for major injuries at a local hospital, and it was reported the man died at the scene despite efforts from those who stopped to help until medics came.
Motorcycle Safety Awareness
Motorcycle injuries and deaths are something that can be prevented. In 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 17% of drivers involved in fatal motorcycle accidents were speeding and 26% of those killed were in a crash involving at least one speeding driver. Additionally, the highest amount of motorcycle drivers killed in a fatal crash were between the ages of 25-34. California was noted to have the highest amount of speeding-related fatalities in 2017.
Speeding on a motorcycle can create problems not only for its driver, but other cars on the road as well. Because of the speed at which motorcycles can accelerate, reaction times are lowered. Additionally, in California, motorcycle drivers are allowed to “lane split.” This means they are legally allowed to drive in space between traffic lanes on public roads and freeways. Even if a driver is aware of their surroundings, if a motorcycle is approaching at a rapid speed during a lane change, it can immediately be fatal. It is best to comply with all traffic laws, especially speeding, when riding your motorcycle.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wearing a helmet saved more than 1800 lives in 2016 across the country and another 800 could’ve been saved if they wore a helmet. Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69% and death by 37%. California law requires all motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear a helmet when on a motorcycle. It is illegal for a driver wearing a helmet to have a passenger who isn’t.
Summer Motorcycle Safety
With the warm weather already here, there will be an increased amount of vehicles on the roadways. Increased traffic will only mean a higher likelihood of accidents. If there is traffic, motorcycle drivers may be more inclined to lane split to cut down on their commute time.
Motorcycle riders need to make sure they are wearing the proper helmet, make themselves visible, always stay alert, be dressed for safety, and use the SEE Strategy (Search, Evaluate, and Execute) to make sure they have time to react and widen safety margins.
