There are too many motorcycle wrecks in Southwest Missouri
It seems like I can't pick up the local paper or turn on the news without reading about another Southwest Missouri or Northern Arkansas motorcycle accident. With gas prices what they were (and may be again), a lot more people were taking advantage of the fuel economy a motorcycle or moped offers.
Here are the statistics for 2007. I think 2008 will be worse, so do others. These stats don't even take into account smaller 49cc and below mopeds. By July this year Springfield had six fatal motorcycle accidents and the Springfield Police Department has investigated a total of 42 motorcycle crashes. I have not seen the numbers for the fall.
MOTORCYCLE INVOLVEMENT
This section presents a series of data displays which describe motorcycle involvement in Missouri's traffic crash experience. Motorcycle traffic crashes are defined as any crash in which one or more motorcycles were involved in the incident.
Mopeds and all terrain vehicles (ATV's) are not considered motorcycles for the purpose of this analysis. Data displays also are provided in this section which identify characteristics of motorcycle drivers in traffic crashes.
2007 SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Of all 2007 Missouri traffic crashes, 1.5% involved a motorcycle. Of all fatal traffic crashes, 10.0%
involved a motorcycle. A total of 93 persons were killed and 2,179 were injured in motorcycle crashes.
There was an increase of 2.8% in the rate of change when comparing total 2007 motorcycle traffic
crashes with those in 2006. There was a decrease of 2.2% when comparing fatal 2007 motorcycle
crashes with 2006.
In 2007, one person was killed or injured in a motorcycle traffic crash every 3.9 hours in the State of Missouri.
Of all 2007 motorcycle crashes, the first harmful event in 42.4% of the cases involved one motor
vehicle in transport striking another motor vehicle in transport. In 25.8% of the cases, it involved a
motor vehicle overturning. In fatal motorcycle traffic crashes, 30.3% of the cases involved a motor
vehicle striking a fixed object.
Of all 2007 motorcycle traffic crashes, 52.0% occurred in urban regions of the State and 48.0% oc-
curred in rural areas. However, in fatal motorcycle crashes, 62.9% occurred in a rural area.
Of all motorcycle drivers in traffic crashes, 93.9% were male and 6.1% were female. The average age of motorcyclists was 39.2 years.
Motorcycle drivers were speeding in 51.7% of all fatal motorcycle traffic crashes and their drinking was a causative factor in 18.0% of these crashes.
Of those motorcyclists in 2007 traffic crashes who wore a helmet, 30.0% were either killed or received a major disabling injury. Of those not wearing helmets, 39.3% were either killed or received a major disabling injury.
(From the Missouri Highway Patrol 2007 Traffic Safety Compendium)
With so many people out enjoying the Ozarks , Branson area and riding their motorcycles to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, be careful and keep an eye out for not just motorcyclists but bicyclists,mopeds, pedestrians and other auto drivers.
