412 Motorcyclists Died on Texas Roads Last Year, Officials Say

Texas transportation officials say 412 motorcyclists were killed and more than 1,800 were seriously injured on the state’s roads in 2019.

Acknowledging that on average, one motorcyclist dies every day on Texas roads, the Texas Department of Transportation is urging drivers to “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles.”

TXDoT said it has initiated a campaign that aims to alert drivers to the risks that motorcyclists face and suggests safety precautions motorists can take to protect motorcyclists and themselves. The campaign reminds drivers that motorcycles are small and can be hard to see.

The summer months are among the most dangerous for motorcyclists, the agency says.

“The six-month period from May through October is the deadliest for motorcycle riders and accounted for 61 percent of motorcycle fatalities in Texas last year,” TxDOT Executive Director James Bass said in a media release. “That’s why we are urging drivers to Look Twice for Motorcycles-there’s a life riding on it.”

Safety experts say that crashes between motorcyclists and drivers often occur when drivers make left turns in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, misjudging the distance and speed of the motorcycle. Last year, 30 percent of Texas motorcycle fatalities occurred in an intersection or were intersection-related.

The highest numbers of fatal motorcycle crashes last year occurred in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Lubbock and Odessa.

The “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” campaign is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel, like wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit, never texting and driving and never driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Nov. 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.

Source: Texas Department of Transportation