Because the final of summer season slips away, it isn’t unusual to see extra motorcyclists on Colorado’s roads, particularly on the weekends. Motorcycling is as common as ever in Colorado, with the variety of registered bikes up since 2012. However they’re additionally deadlier than ever. Simply final 12 months, 125 motorcyclists died in motorized vehicle accidents, which is a 15 % soar from the 12 months earlier than and an all-time excessive for Colorado. The truth is, motorbike fatalities have been on the rise over the past a number of years, and now make up greater than 20 % of all roadway fatalities within the state. The truth is, the newest Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration analysis reveals that motorcyclists are 27 instances extra prone to die in an accident than anybody else.Colorado is a Motorbike MeccaColorado ranks among the many high 15 states for motorbike registrations. The state’s been slowly creeping up the rankings for years. On common, People personal one motorbike for each 35.7 residents. In Colorado, there’s one bike for each 29 residents.Simply final 12 months, SmartAsset, a monetary tech agency that makes use of knowledge to supply customers “free, actionable advice on big financial decisions,” ranked Fort Collins, Colorado, America’s high metropolis for motorbike house owners. Apart from the scenic roadways, SmartAsset’s rating attributed the town’s lack of site visitors to Fort Collins’ draw for motorcyclists. Fort Collins drivers spend lower than 20 hours a 12 months in site visitors on common, which makes Fort Collins one of many 20 least-congested cities within the nation.Colorado’s low fuel taxes are one other attraction for motorbike riders. The state’s gasoline tax is barely 22 cents per gallon.What are Colorado’s Motorbike Legal guidelines?Essentially the most notable of Colorado’s motorbike legal guidelines is the dearth of a helmet requirement for riders over the age of 18. NHTSA knowledge displaying that just about two-thirds of motorbike accident deaths occurred when riders went with out helmets in states with no necessary helmet legislation. There’s nonetheless a 13 % fatality charge in states with helmet mandates, however surprisingly, solely 19 states require all riders to put on a helmet.Nonetheless, Colorado does require some sort of eye safety for all riders. This sometimes consists of goggles, glasses, or a helmet visor, however excludes windshields. However surprisingly, Colorado has no mirror requirement for bikes, making it much more troublesome to see properly whereas driving.An necessary legislation to pay attention to is Colorado prohibiting motorcyclists from “passing or overtaking” a automobile in the identical lane. Lane sharing, or lane splitting, is towards the legislation. Bikes can, nevertheless, share lanes with one other motorbike. And like some other motorized vehicle on the street, Colorado requires motorcyclists to hold a minimal quantity of legal responsibility insurance coverage.Helmet Legal guidelines Save LivesThere’s little doubt that motorbike helmet legal guidelines preserve riders alive. Michigan affords a chilling case research. The state rolled again its helmet legislation in 2012, requiring solely riders below 21 to put on helmets. Throughout the first 12 months, the fatality charge amongst un-helmeted riders almost doubled. The speed of hospitalized trauma sufferers jumped 14 % and the variety of cranium fractures jumped almost 40 %.A bike accident is usually a terrifying expertise. On high of a motorbike, a rider is rather more weak than somebody in a automobile or truck. It isn’t even a matter of pace. Analysis reveals that almost all motorbike accidents happen when the riders is touring below 30 mph!
