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| Nationwide,
motorcycle fatalities are on the rise. Between
2003 and 2007, 377 motorcyclists died on New
Jersey’s highways.During the same time
period, motorcycle registrations increased by
17 percent. About 2,500 motorcycles are involved
in crashes each year on New Jersey's roadways,
according to the Federal Highway Authority.
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Facts:
22% of motorcycle fatalities involved
riders that
did not have a motorcycle endorsement. In
addition,
21 percent of these crashes involved excessive
speed,
27 percent involved alcohol and 23 percent
had a
previous license suspension/revocation. Motorcycle
crashes result in 70 or more fatalities and
about 2,000 injuries each year in the Garden
State. If you're involved in a motorcycle
crash in New Jersey, statistics show that
you have a 75 percent chance of being injured.
Every rider's best defense against an injury
is to obey the law: Wear
Your Helmet! |
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Motorcycle
Crash Facts:
Motorcycle crashes involving other vehicles
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More
than half occur at intersections. |
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More than two-thirds occur when the
vehicle's driver does not see the motorcycle. |
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Motorcycle
crashes not involving other vehicles - |
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| A
motorcycle riders' best defense against injury
is to obey laws and wear protective clothing
and equipment: |
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Motorcyclist
Safety Tips:
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Drive
Defensively - Assume motorists
do not see you and plan escape routes. |
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Make
Yourself Visible - Wear bright
colored and reflective clothing. Do
not linger in "blind spots".
Adjust your lane position. |
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Give
Yourself Time and Space to React - Do
not tailgate. Use the "Two Second
Rule" or the "Four Second
Rule" to create space between you
and vehicles ahead of you. |
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Avoid
Sudden Braking or Turning When Driving
on Wet Roads or Gravel - With
only two tires, motorcycles have less
tire traction than other vehicles. |
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Enhance
Your Skills with Education -
New Jersey offers various safety
and skill courses, for riders new and
old. View
more information, or call 609-633-9308. |
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Never
drink alcohol
or take medications while riding. |
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Never
ride if you are tired. |
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Safety
Tips for the Motorist: |
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Be
Alert for Motorcycles - Heavy
traffic could hide a motorcycle. Be
aware constantly. |
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Anticipate
Hazards for Motorcycles -
Be prepared to react to poor
road conditions, such as debris or oil
slicks, railroad tracks or raised manhole
covers. |
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Do
Not Tailgate Motorcycles - They
require less stopping distance than
other vehicles. |
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Share
the Road - Sharing the road will
save lives. Motorcyclists and motorists
abide by the same traffic laws. To avoid
crashes, obey speed laws, warning signs
and traffic signals. Share the road.
Remember that motorcycles are much smaller
and maneuver faster than other vehicles,
so always check your mirrors twice.
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New
Jersey Helmet Law - P.L. 39:3-76.7:
No person shall operate or ride upon a motorcycle
unless he wears a securely fitted protective
helmet of a size proper for that person and
of a type approved by the federal DOT. Such
a helmet must be equipped with either a neck
or chin strap and be reflectorized on both
sides. |
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Consider
the Facts about Helmet Use: |
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An
approved helmet lets you see as far
to the sides as necessary. A study of
more than 900 motorcycle crashes, where
40% of the riders wore helmets, failed
to find a single case in which a helmet
kept a rider from spotting danger. |
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Most crashes happen on short trips (less
than five miles long), just a few minutes
after starting out. |
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Even low-speed crashes can be fatal.
Most riders are going slower than 30
mph when they get injured. At these
speeds, helmets can reduce both the
number and the severity of head injuries
by half. |
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No
matter what the speed, unhelmeted riders
are three times more likely to die from
head injuries than are riders who are
wearing a DOT approved helmet at the
time of the crash. |
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| Other
Motorcycle-related NJ Laws: |
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Handlebars
must rest below rider's shoulders. |
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Rearview
mirror is required. |
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Links: |
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