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Motorcycle crashes on the rise locally

Backus Hospital has seen almost twice as many trauma victims from motorcycle crashes so far this year compared to all of last year.

“We have seen a significant increase in motorcycle crashes from last year,” said Gillian Mosier, RN, Backus Hospital Trauma Program Manager. “Last year, we had 31 the whole year, and this year we have already seen 57.”

She said about 32 of those were riders without helmets, which is more than half. Last year about 19 were without helmets, still more than 50 percent.

“The ones who wear helmets have a better chance of survival,” Ms. Mosier said. “You can be the best driver in the world, but if someone cuts you off in a car, you have nothing to protect you other than your gear.”

She said she has been checking with other regional trauma centers, but Backus is seeing a larger amount of these types of crashes.

“I think because of our open roads and more rural conditions, we see more motorcycle crashes than urban areas,” Ms. Mosier said.

Many of the victims are riders younger than 30, who are often on foreign bikes, she said.
Norwich Police Chief Louis Fusaro said whenever the weather is nice, there are more motorcycles on the road. “Also with high gas prices, we have seen more motorcycles. I don’t have quantitative evidence, but I do think it has had an impact,” he said. “The lighter vehicles are cheaper to run.”

Motorcycle crashes are always a concern, he said, because motorcycles don’t offer much protection from larger and heavier vehicles and people who choose not to wear a helmet put themselves in further jeopardy. “It is our recommendation that people wear helmets, it gives some level of protection for their head, but the law doesn’t require it,” Fusaro said.

In Connecticut, riders younger than 18 are required to wear helmets, but anyone older than 18 is not. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes, and cyclists who don’t wear helmets are 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury.

“If you are going to ride, wear safety equipment,” Ms. Mosier said. She recommended a jean or leather jacket, long pants, helmet and boots.

The National Traffic Safety Board held a public forum on motorcycle safety in September. Board Member Debbie Hersman, said last year 4,315 motorcyclists died in crashes and the rate of motorcycle fatalities has increased more than 25 percent since 1997. At a time when highway fatalities have been decreasing, fatalities involving motorcycles have continued to increase, both in overall numbers and in fatality rate.

According to the NTSB motorcycle rider fatalities and registrations have both been on the rise since 1997, however, in most of these years the rate in increase in fatalities has been higher than that of motorcycle registrations.