A high number of motorcycle crashes has Longmont police cautioning bikers and drivers alike.
So far this July, there have been three motorcycle crashes and all have resulted in hospitalization, according to Longmont’s daily police reports. There were also two crashes in June and two in May.
At least two of those crashes since May 14 were fatal, according to police, and the rest resulted in hospitalization, often for life threatening injuries.
According to Longmont police, five of these crashes occurred at intersections where one of the involved parties was turning left in front of the others. In most cases, the vehicle was making the left turn.
Five of the seven accidents involving motorcycles this summer were at intersections with light signals. Police said contributing factors ranged from speed and distraction to drugs and alcohol involvement, but that all the crashes were preventable.
“We ask our citizens to make driving your vehicle your number one priority,” officials said. “The goal is to get from your origin to your destination while keeping you and others on the roadway safe.”
Last year in Colorado, 137 motorcyclists died in accidents, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. In 2020, 140 bikers died, making it the deadliest year on record for motorcyclists in the state.
Although motorcycles are only 3% of registered vehicles in the state, they make up nearly 20% of traffic fatalities, CDOT said.
The state reported that 89% of bikers killed were men and 46% were younger than 40. According to crash data, most riders killed in 2021 were not wearing helmets.
“Helmet use is the most crucial factor in the survivability of a motorcycle crash,” CDOT Director of the Highway Safety Office Darrell Lingk said in a release. “Head injuries are common in these crashes. So, whether you are riding around town or cross country, we encourage riders to always wear a helmet.”
In addition to wearing helmets, CDOT advises riders to have a motorcycle license endorsement, wear proper gear, get professional training, follow traffic laws and ride sober.
CDOT also reminded drivers to use caution around motorcycles. That includes checking blind spots thoroughly, looking twice before turns, merges and lane changes, using extra caution when turning left, eliminating distraction and never following motorcyclists too closely.
