Motorcycle deaths rising
Last year’s toll of motorcycle deaths was 45, with five in December alone, 10 more than in 2016; awareness and defensive riding can reduce the toll
A total of 45 people have died in motorcycle accidents on Catalan roads during 2017, 10 more than were recorded during 2016, according to data from the Catalan Traffic Service. December has been particularly tragic with the death of five riders on the roads. This increase in mortality of 28% during 2017 confirms the warning made late in the year by RACC in the presentation of a study on the state of Catalan roads when it predicted the increase in accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles.
The upward trend has continued since 2013 when there were 1,565 motorcycle and moped accidents, with 273 of those involving deaths or serious injuries, which climbing to 2,129 accidents in 2016, with 309 involving deaths or serious injuries.
The increase in motorcycle deaths last year is just one indication of tragedy on Catalan roads in 2017 with a total of 167 deaths, surpassing the 153 fatalities of last year.
Experts studying the phenomenon of motorcycle accidents agree on two things. On the one hand there is a question of recklessness that is not in fact caused by the weekend parade of televised championship races but in reality, the human factor, the awareness or lack thereof of each driver plays a decisive role in the cause of accidents and prevention and defensive riding are key.
Studies say that 25% of the accidents are the responsibility of the motorist and the rest depend on the state of the roads and other road users. “Maintenance of roads is very important,” says Oscar Pérez, Secretary of the Catalan Motorcycling Federation, adding “but it is important that the pilot drives with great care.”