May 17, 2012
Nearly 31,000 citations were doled out in North Carolina during the span of a week as part of the Government High Safety Program’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Campaign, which ran from April 30 to May 6.
Star News Online reports that more than 196,000 motorcycles are registered in North Carolina, where more than 4,000 motorcycle crashes occurred in 2011. This resulted in 143 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries.
“State and local law enforcement agencies across the state stepped up patrols and conducted training during the week-long campaign to educate cyclists and motorists about the importance of motorcycle safety,” GHSP Director Becky Wallace said in a press release.
The numerous motorcycle safety courses that were taught statewide were the work of GHSP’s partnership with law enforcement agencies, as well as Bike Safe North Carolina. The groups have planned additional safety courses throughout May.
Just this week a 63-year-old Florida police chief who was vacationing in North Carolina lost his life when his motorcycle went off the road and crashed. According to the Gaston Gazette, the man had been on an outing with about a half dozen police friends when the wreck occurred.
The North Carolina Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at HensonFuerst Attorneys remind North Carolina motorcyclists that an estimated 1,483 lives were saved by motorcycle helmets in 2009. Be safe and always wear a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218 helmet, share the road, and remain visible at all times.