Finally, we are seeing some warm weather here in Utah. It's so nice to go outside and feel the sun on your face. However, as with any shift in seasons, there are dangers. In this blog post, we will dive into how motorcycle riders can be safer on the sunny roads that are coming.

Tragedy:

This weekend in Utah there were three motorcycle fatalities. These were tragic events in which two of the fatal accidents could have been avoided. The Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) warns motorcycle riders to ride like they can't be seen by anyone else. UHP Sgt. Danny Allen says that motorcycle riders should “…ride with the mentality that no one can see them.” As referenced before, there were three fatal motorcycle accidents this weekend: two were due to the actions of other drivers.

• A 55-year-old man, Darryl Nelson, was killed on Saturday evening in Smithfield, UT because a truck turned in front of him.
• A 38-year-old man, Ryan Smith, was killed on Sunday night in Riverton, UT after a pickup truck made a left turn in front of him.
• A 38-year-old man, Kevin Swoffer, was killed Sunday afternoon off of Route 128 after taking a turn too quickly.

Lessons to Learn:

Two lessons can be learned from these events. One is to always make sure that you are in control of yourself and your motorcycle. Make sure that you are obeying all speed limits and other road signs to avoid skidding out or veering into another vehicle. Allen said, “…motorcycle riders…need to tune up their skills just like they tune up their bikes.” Allen said this because it is becoming warmer and warmer in Utah. The second lesson to be learned here is that you need to act like no one can see you. To be alert and vigilant enough to stop when someone turns in front of you could save your life. Allen also offers that wearing a helmet could save your life or improve your chances of survival if you are in a crash.

Utah Department of Transportation:

The 2017 Utah Fatal Crash Summary has been released with some good news. There is no good news when talking about people being killed in motor related accidents. There were 1,168 motorcycle crashes in 2016. 1,014 injured motorcycle riders came from those numbers. However, in 2016, 42 motorcyclists were killed. In 2017, there was a decrease in motorcycle fatalities by three deaths. This is encouraging as that is a 7.1% decrease.

At Utah Bike Law, we want you to be safe. We want you to be a careful as you can be while enjoying the amazing Utah weather. If, you are in a motorcycle crash, call us so we can help. (801) 487-6454