Motorcycle deaths increase locally
as high gas prices attract more riders
In the past five months, 10 people have died in six local motorcycle accidents.
One reason, authorities say, may be an increase in motorcycle riders. State Police Sgt. Bill Emery said that with good weather and high gas prices, more people are out riding motorcycles.
"The deaths will increase with more bikes out there," Emery said.
State Police are investigating a motorcycle accident that killed a local man Sept. 19 in Rockbridge County.
Sgt. Rob Carpentieri said the incident occurred about 4:35 p.m. on state Route 39, a half-mile east of state Route 252 near the Cedar Grove community north of Lexington.
Goshen resident Briscoe Baldwin Brown III, 56, was westbound on a 2007 Suzuki when he ran off the right side of the road and struck an embankment, according to Carpentieri.
Police say Brown was wearing a helmet. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
While the number of motor vehicle fatalities per million miles driven has dropped sharply in the last 30 years, the last decade has been marked by greater motorcycle use and a rise in the number of motorcycle deaths.
A recent National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration report shows that motorcycle rider fatalities have increased nationally each year since 1997.
According to the agency, there were 5,154 motorcycle deaths in 2007, 317 more than the previous year and a 143 percent increase since 1997, when there were 2,116 motorcycle deaths nationally.
The number of motorcycle fatalities has increased as the number of states requiring helmets has decreased. In 1975, 47 states required riders to wear helmets. Now only 20 do, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The highway safety agency has blamed the high number of fatalities on a number of other causes, including an increased number of young riders, more motorcycles on the roadway, and bigger and faster motorcycles in production.
Rising gas prices may also be driving up demand for motorcycles, which usually get about 40 miles per gallon in city driving and 60 miles per gallon on the highway.
Gas prices have retreated from summer highs of more than $4 a gallon, but the average statewide price of $3.63 for regular unleaded is still a dollar higher than it was at the same time last year. For many Americans, that may be motivation enough to switch from four wheels to two.
 |
Robbie Varipapa rides his motorcycle as both a hobby and a more economical alternative to a car. (JANE LEE/ Rockbridge Report.) |
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pamela Luecke
Reporting Supervisors:
Prof. Doug Cumming
Prof. Indira Somani
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd