Governor Martin O’Malley has declared May as Motorcycle Safety Month. In response, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office has stepped up efforts to prevent fatal crashes. According to a WBAL-TV news report, officials have started the BikeSafe Campaign as part of which motorcycle riders in the state can benefit from free training programs that focus on safe riding habits.
Even experienced riders can benefit from a refresher course, and the classes offered through BikeSafe in Maryland are free for all licensed motorcycle riders. All local riders should consider attending a class since the BikeSafe program has proven successful in other locations. In 2003, since the BikeSafe began in the United Kingdom, there has been a 25 percent decrease in fatal motorcycle crashes. There has also been a 20 percent drop in motorcycle fatalities in North Carolina since they started the BikeSafe campaign there in 2007.
According to a spokesperson for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, motorcyclists are six times more likely to be injured in a crash and 27 times more likely to be killed. Just in Anne Arundel County, motorcycles make up just 2 percent of all traffic crashes but account for 12 percent of all traffic fatalities.
If you ride in Maryland, make sure you exercise safe riding habits. You can reduce your chances of being in a crash by obeying the speed limit, adjusting your speed to the roadway conditions, and keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicles around you. Slow down when approaching an intersection, always use your signals, do not lane split, obey traffic lights, and always wear a helmet.
If have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced Maryland motorcycle accident lawyer to better understand your legal rights and options. A number of motorcyclists are seriously injured despite undergoing training and taking every possible precaution. A knowledgeable injury lawyer can help victims and their families hold at-fault parties accountable and secure fair compensation for their losses.