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Are motorcycle fatalities on the rise in West Virginia?

On Behalf of | Jul 30, 2015 | Motorcycle Accidents |

Motorcycle accidents and fatalities are still very much a problem in West Virginia. Even though the state tends to have a lower number of deaths than some other states, the fact of the matter is that there are still people killed on the roadways every single year.

Looking at the preliminary data for 2014, for West Virginia, there was an increase in the number of fatalities from the beginning part of 2013 to the beginning of 2014. 

On a national level, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, the numbers for 2014 are expected to show a 2 percent decrease in the number of motorcycle fatalities across the country. Taking a deeper dive just into the data presented for West Virginia though, there were six more deaths reported for the first nine months of 2014 as compared to the first nine months of 2013.  

Looking at these statistics, while knowing how the nation and West Virginia are trending does help to paint a picture, on an individual basis there is more that needs to be known, which is why education regarding motorcycle safety and awareness is so important. 

Quite frequently, the focus tends to be on the motorcyclist and what he or she can do to better protect themselves. And while this is certainly important, other motorists on the roadways also have a responsibility to be on the lookout for motorcyclists. A car or a truck is a piece of machine weighing several thousands of pounds. One mistake behind the wheel is all it takes to cause an accident with life-altering — or even life-ending — consequences for a motorcyclist. All drivers should keep this in mind and drive responsibly.