As a motorcyclist, you must be ultra-aware while cruising the open road due to distracted drivers texting, surfing the web, or even applying makeup while driving. While there is no law that says you can’t apply makeup, many states have banned the use of cell phones or enacted hands-free laws while driving. This has led to more alert drivers and lowered motorcyclist fatality rates.
Research conducted by Florida Atlantic University and the University of Miami shows that the fatality rates of motorcycle riders is 11% lower than states that haven’t enacted such bans or hands-free laws. The research did not identify how these laws affect the overall number of fatalities for all vehicles.
To come up with these findings the author used data by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) that showed motorcycle-specific death rates for all 50 states between 2005-2015. The next step included merging the texting/hands-free laws, state-specific attributes, and other specific traffic policies to examine the fatality difference when comparing strong, medium, and weak laws related to cell phone texting bans and hands-free laws.
Phone users have differing opinions
There is an interesting correlation between users of different mobile phone operating systems. 16% of iPhone users say they never get distracted while driving. 23% of Android users and 38% of users using different systems believe the same.
Distracted driving is an issue for all drivers, including motorcyclists. Keep your eyes on the road, stay safe, and follow the laws. Arriving home safely should be a top priority.