Warmer weather is here and people are out and about. Both motorcycle deaths and accidents have shown concerning increases in recent years. The most recent stats I could find were 82,564 motorcycle injuries and 6,335 fatalities in the year 2023.

External factors in motorcycle accidents include road hazards, pot holes, loose gravel, road debris, poor or missing road signs, changing weather conditions, rain, snow, and fog.

Causes of rider related factors are speeding, elevated BAC (Blood Alcohol Level) lack of experience, poor training, poor decision making such as misjudging speed of other vehicles, and adjusting their own speed to changing conditions. A primary concern is riding above the speed limit. One common factor is rider loss of control on curves.

Vehicle driver related factors include distracted driving, using cellphones or other devices, elevated BAC level, speeding, misjudging a motorcycle’s speed, failure to yield, failure to signal.

The leading cause of motorcycle fatalities is head on collisions with other vehicles, mainly cars.

Many accidents occur at Intersections due to excessive speed and red light running. *About 70% of motorcycle accidents involve other vehicles making a Left Hand Turn. Please reread this paragraph and next time make sure the Cross Lane is clear before making a left hand turn.

A Johns Hopkins study after looking at 40,000 injuries between 2002-2006 was published in the “Journal of the American College of Surgeons.” Wearing helmets does not add extra torque on the head. They save lives and reduce the risk of cervical injuries, (TBI) traumatic brain injury and are associated with decreased risk of spine injury.”

This letter is in memory of Pleasant Valley graduate Jeremy Wilson Schessler of Kunkletown

Aug. 6, 1994 — May 31, 2019.

Debra Becker

Chestnuthill Township