Throughout the course of the year, professional truck drivers share the roadways with all types of vehicles; one of these types is motorcycles.
The 2015 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Safety Facts" website reveals the following statistics about motorcycles:
- Motorcycles make up 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States and account for 0.6% of all vehicle miles traveled.
- Per registered vehicle, the fatality rate for motorcyclists in 2015 was six times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants.
- Approximately 57% of motorcycle fatalities occur in daylight.
- 4,976 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) 2015 Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts website lists 225 fatalities involving large trucks colliding with motorcycles.
Truck drivers should make every attempt to be aware of motorcycles sharing the roadways. Hazards of identifying motorcycles include the following:
- Motorcycles are small in stature.
- Motorcycles are hard to see during certain times of the day.
- Motorcycles are hard to see during certain weather conditions.
- Motorcycles offer minimal occupant protection.
- Motorcycles are able to accelerate, stop, change lanes, and turn quickly.
We are here to answer your questions. Contact our Risk Management Specialist today!
Risk Management Specialist | Joe Morten & Son, Inc.
O: 865.392.3777 | C: 865.771.9506
This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. does not provide legal advice to its insureds or other parties, nor does it advise insureds or other parties on employment-related issues, therefore the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds or other parties. Legal advice should always be sought from legal counsel. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein. Reprinted with permission from Great West Casualty Company.