Gas prices go up. People swap cars for motorcycles. People crash motorcycles. That’s the idea behind this piece in the Morning News about a rise in motorcycle fatalities.
In Dallas, 10 people have already died in motorcycle crashes so far this year, including 26-year-old Casey Shaw who died late Monday near Central and Southwestern Blvd.
Police say witnesses estimated Shaw’s speed at around 100 mph when he crashed.
Two teenagers died in a wreck on Airport Freeway last night. I heard reports of another motorcycle accident as I was getting out of my car this morning … and that’s just what I’ve heard in the last few days.
Police and experts stress the importance of motorcycle safety education and wearing the proper safety equipment. According to the story, "Texas drivers must pass both a written and road test to receive a motorcycle license. The road test is waived for adults who take an optional motorcycle safety course that’s offered throughout the state. The classes are mandatory for motorcyclist drivers under age 18."
If this trend continues, how far are we from motorcycle helmet laws? I am not big on government telling adults to wear helmets, seat belts, et. al. … but, heck, we already have seat belt laws and BICYCLE helmet laws here — and cops at White Rock Lake enforce them too. How can you justify bicycle helmet laws and no motorcycle helmet laws?
For the record, according to American College of Emergency Physicians motorcycle operator deaths increased by 31 percent in Texas following the repeal of mandatory helmet laws in 1997. (Our current laws include helmet exemptions for those who take the aforementioned safety courses.)
