Lorraine Williamson
As of June 15, 2023, the number of motorcycle fatalities has reached a staggering 116, with 62 occurring during weekends. Shockingly, 78% of these fatalities took place on conventional roads.
One of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents is veering off the road, a type of accident where no other vehicles are involved and is often attributed to distractions or inappropriate speed.
With the arrival of good weather, the number of motorcycle journeys increases exponentially, especially on weekends, when riding becomes a recreational activity in itself.
To address this issue, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) conducts specific surveillance campaigns several times a year. Moreover, one of these campaigns is scheduled for this weekend, and another is planned for September. The campaigns will focus on the roads most frequented by motorcyclists. The aim is to ensure compliance with the most important regulations affecting motorcycle riders.
The alarming rise in motorcycle fatalities demands intensified monitoring
As customary, the DGT emphasises the importance of prudence and adherence to traffic regulations. So far this year, 116 motorcyclists have lost their lives, and more than half of these fatalities (62) occurred during weekends. Additionally, motorcycle accidents have seen the highest increase in mortality compared to last year, with 12 more deaths reported during the same period in 2022.
The campaign’s objective is, therefore, to reduce fatal accidents involving motorcycles on weekends. To achieve this, the traffic officers of the Civil Guard Traffic Group will emphasise the significance of respecting traffic rules and ensure their enforcement.
The dangerous combination of motorcycle fatalities on conventional roads and weekends
Analysing motorcycle fatalities based on road type and the day of the week reveals a particularly hazardous situation when combining conventional roads with weekends.
Out of the total 345 traffic-related deaths recorded until June 15, 116 were motorcyclists, accounting for 33.6% of the fatalities. Astonishingly, 78% (90 motorcyclists) of these deaths occurred on conventional roads. Moreover, when considering the number of motorcyclists who died on conventional roads during weekends, the figure rises to 53 individuals, almost half of the total.
Furthermore, the data for 2023 indicates an increase in off-road accidents, with 57 fatalities reported by June 15. This alarming trend calls for attention to be drawn to motorcycle riders as these accidents typically involve no other vehicles and are often caused by driver distractions or excessive speed.
Also read: 82 people died in road accidents throughout May 2023