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John Daley ReportingTraffic deaths in the U.S. last year reached their highest numbers since 1990. Though Utah fatalities are down, one category of accidents in particular causes concern.
Fatalities on our roads and highways have been on the decline for years with auto safety improving and more people using seatbelts, until now.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 43-thousand people died on US highways last year. Led by a sharp rise in motorcycle fatalities, the overall fatality rate was up for the first time in 20 years.
In Utah we've had our share, including two fatal motorbike accidents this month, and five in six weeks in April.
Utah's fatalities in 2005 were down from the previous year, but motorcycle fatalities nationally rose for an eighth straight year. Nearly half the riders were not wearing helmets.
In Utah, motorcyclists are 16 times more likely to be killed in a crash than people in cars or trucks.
According to the Utah Highway Patrol, one of the biggest factors in motorcycle fatalities is inexperience. Many riders haven't even had th emost basic safety course.
Trooper Jeff Nigbur, Utah Highway Patrol: "The moment you disrespect one of these motorcycles, it will kill you. You need to be able to have some experience and, hopefully, some knowledge of how to ride that motorcycle to be safe."
Another issueis the arrival of faster, more powerful bullet bikes.
Trooper Jeff Nigbur, Utah Highway Patrol: (Question: How fast can one of those go?) "They can easily go 150, 160. Actually, some of the top line ones can go 200."
The issue gained national attention with the crash of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He wasn't wearing a helmet when he crashed in June. He survived, but nearly half of the 4500 motorcyclists killed in the U.S. in crashes last year weren't wearing helmets.
Overall in the U.S., motorcycle deaths have increased 115 percent since 1997.
