Warm, sunny weather means that Tennessee can be a great place to be a motorcyclist, and with high prices at the gas pump, driving a motorcycle is an economical option as well. But new statistics from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSHS) shows that riders need to consider the dangers of motorcycling as well.

TDSHS reports that motorcycle fatalities are up with 97 fatal motorcycle accidents on Tennessee roads so far this year. This represents a roughly 10 percent increase over last year.

An official with the Tennessee Motorcycle Rider Education Program noted that the warm weather may have played a role. This year’s dry, sunny weather may have enticed more riders to take to the roads.

Of course, warm, clear weather generally doesn’t cause motorcycle accidents; an element of human error is usually involved. The goal of the Tennessee Motorcycle Rider Education program is to show motorcyclists, even experienced riders, how to improve their safety when they’re on the road. Riders who complete the course are 60 percent less likely to get into an accident. They’re also around 60 percent less likely to be at fault when they do have a collision. An official associated with the program notes that the most important thing riders can do to improve their driving safety is not to drive outside of their comfort zone.

Driving outside one’s comfort area isn’t the only reason for fatal crashes, however. Last year, nearly a quarter of fatal motorcycle accidents involved alcohol. Thirty-seven percent of fatalities could have been prevented if the driver had been wearing a helmet. And, of course, automobile drivers need to be prepared to watch out for motorcyclists on busy roadways.

Motorcycle fatalities are a preventable tragedy, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that all motorists can share the road safely. With a few simple steps, we can make Tennessee roads a much safer place for our motorcyclists.

Source: Middle Tennessee Public Radio, “Tennessee Motorcycle Fatalities Up Dramatically in 2012,” Shawn Anfinson, Aug. 31, 2012

As we told you earlier this summer, fatal motorcycle accidents are on the rise in Tennessee compared to years past. In fact, there have already been 97 motorcyclists killed in 2012, 10 more than at this time last year. There’s actually been a decline in recent months. In May, for example, motorcycle rider deaths were up by nearly a third compared to the same period in 2011.

There might be a few reasons for this. One is that higher gas prices may be driving those who would normally drive a gas guzzling SUV to opt for a motorcycle instead. Riding a bike is unquestionably cheaper.

Another probable reason is that last winter was pretty mild. That means more people were out and about on motorcycles, since extremely cold air was not a deterrent as it usually might be.

Still, even with possible explanations like this, it’s obvious that something needs to be done about the problem. A state coordinator for the Tennessee Motorcycle Rider Education Program believes that rider safety courses can decrease the possibility of motorcycle accidents by 60 percent.

Accidents are caused by a variety of factors, but not wearing a helmet definitely plays a role: It’s estimated that 37 percent of motorcycle crash deaths could have been prevented with helmets.

As the weather gets colder, it will be interesting to see if the numbers go down. Hopefully the alarming numbers in the news will make people a little more cautious, too.

Source: WMOT, “Tennessee motorcycle fatalities up dramatically in 2012,” Shawn Anfinson, Aug. 31, 2012

• Our firm handles similar situations to what was discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Knoxville motorcycle accident page.

Earlier this week, we told you about a motorcyclist who was killed in an accident in West Knox County. Now, an accident on Highway 61 has left an 18-year-old motorcyclist in stable condition.

This accident happened along the highway between Clinton and Oak Ridge. The teen was riding a Yamaha XV5 motorcycle in the late morning on Wednesday. At the same time, a PT Cruiser was pulling out of the Rocky Top gas station at Mariner Point onto the highway.

That driver was attempting to turn left onto Highway 61 and says that he did not see the motorcyclist because his view was blocked by a vehicle pulling a trailer that was pulling into the Rocky Top parking lot. After the 56-year-old driver of the PT Cruiser pulled out onto the highway, the motorcyclist, who was traveling in the inside traffic lane of the highway, apparently couldn’t get out of the way in time and collided with the driver’s side door of the vehicle.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, but was injured and was flown by a University of Tennessee Lifestar helicopter to a Knoxville hospital for treatment of “non-incapacitating injuries.” He was listed in stable condition after his arrival at the hospital.

A passenger in the PT Cruiser was also injured and taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.

It’s important for all drivers to make sure they have a clear view of traffic when they turn onto a highway. Big vehicles sometimes get in the way, in which case waiting until the view is clear is the best option.

Source: Oak Ridge Today, “Oak Ridge motorcyclist in stable condition after wreck,” John Huotari, Aug. 23, 2012

• Our firm handles similar situations to the one discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Knoxville motorcycle accident page.

It’s extremely important for drivers to watch out for motorcyclists, particularly on roads that are notorious for accidents. Likewise, motorcyclists need to make sure they are operating their bikes in a way that does not endanger their safety.

At this point, it’s unclear what exactly happened, but a motorcyclist was killed in an accident with a truck in West Knox County last night. According to media reports, a 27-year-old man was riding a 2004 Kowasaki east on Lovell Road. The bike reportedly collided with a Dodge Ram truck, which was headed west on the road, after it apparently turned in front of the biker. It appears that the driver was attempting a left turn onto Bob Gray Road, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s spokesperson.

The motorcyclist, who was from Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the scene. Reports say that he was wearing a helmet. The 66-year-old driver of the Dodge, meanwhile, was not injured in the accident.

People who live in the area say that it is a notorious spot for accidents. The Knox County Sheriff’s Department says that it is still investigating the cause of the crash.

Unfortunately, this accident shows that helmets can’t always spare motorcyclists from serious crash injuries. When accidents are severe or high impact, sometimes no amount of protection can prevent fatal injuries. That makes it all the more important for drivers to keep an eye out for motorcyclists, particularly while making turns on busy roads.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, “One killed in West Knox motorcycle crash,” Aug. 21, 2012

• Our firm handles similar situations to the one discussed in this post. If you would like to learn more about our practice, please visit our Knoxville motorcycle accident page.