April of 2021 is already seeing a huge uptick in fatal motorcycle accidents in Texas. Here are just a few accidents that have happened this month in Texas:
April 8, 2021, KXAN reported a deadly motorcycle crash in Austin on State Highway 130.
April 9, 2021, KSAT reported a deadly motorcycle crash in New Braunfels at Oak Run Point at intersection of Highway 46.
April 11, 2021, KTSM reported a deadly motorcycle crash in El Paso at 4700 block of Dyer Street.
And the list goes on.
Perhaps even more sobering is that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) stated, “On average, one motorcyclist dies every day on Texas roads.”
Every day.
Motorcyclists know that riding motorcycles makes them more vulnerable in accidents than using other types of transportation, such as cars that provide more protection. But other factors such as time of year and physical location have been shown to impact the statistics for accidents and fatalities in these accidents.
According to the TxDOT, the summer months into early fall, May through October, are the most dangerous and deadly for motorcycle riders. It is during these mostly summer months where 61% of these accidents occurred. So even though we have seen many deadly crashes already this year, statistics show they will get worse in the coming months.
What can bikers do to stay safe?
Knowing where problems occur and when can help bikers to be more aware and cautious at those times and places. The TxDOT noted intersections as one of the most dangerous places for motorcyclists, riders could take more care at these junctures. In 2019, 30% of fatalities for bikers occurred at or near intersections. The statistics for all of 2019 in Texas reported 1,800 serious injuries and 412 deaths for motorcyclists.
Additionally, the majority of fatal accidents in Texas occurred in larger cities, including Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio and Odessa. This could perhaps be because of the sheer number of increased drivers and traffic in large cities.
In response to these troubling statistics, the TxDOT has started a campaign to make drivers more aware of these tragic accidents. Time will tell if the statistics improve in favor of safety. We hope they will. In the meantime, we should all watch out for motorcyclists and stay safe out on the road.