With Drivers More distracted than ever with Cell Phones and other devices taking their eyes off the road we are in danger

Lane-splitting is safe if done in traffic moving at 50 mph or less, and if motorcyclists do not exceed the speed of other vehicles by more than 15 mph

Compared to riders who were not splitting lanes, lane-splitting motorcyclists were remarkably less likely to suffer head injury (9 percent vs. 17 percent), torso injury (19 percent vs. 29 percent) or fatal injury (1.2 percent vs. 3 percent)

Lane-splitting riders were significantly less likely to be rear-ended than non-lane-splitting riders (2.6 percent vs. 4.6 percent)

“A motorcycle’s narrow width can allow it to pass between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars on roadways where the lanes are wide enough to offer an adequate gap. This option can provide an escape route for motorcyclists who would otherwise be trapped or struck from behind. There is evidence (Hurt, 1981) that traveling between lanes of stopped or slow-moving cars (i.e., lane splitting) on multiple-lane roads (such as interstate highways) slightly reduces crash frequency compared with staying within the lane and moving with other traffic.

“Although lane splitting is allowed in just a few areas of the United States, notably California, it appears to be worthy of further study because it offers a means of reducing congestion in addition to possible safety benefits. It is widely used in many other countries.”

There were 1,819 motorcycle crashes in 2010.

Motorcycle fatalities accounted for 10% of total traffic fatalities in 2010, but only about 1.7% of crashes.

The number of motorcycle crashes increased by 5.8% and fatalities decreased by 10% from 2009 to 2010.

INJURIES, FATALITIES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS

A total of 81 motorcycle riders were killed and an additional 1,984 were injured in 2010.

The average age for motorcycle fatalities in 2011 was 41 — the youngest was 15 and the oldest was 79.

In 2010, motorcycle injuries resulted in 751 hospitalizations and 2,963 emergency department visits with a total of $73,718,189 in hospitalization and emergency room charges.

Motorcycle riders 19 to 24 years of age had the highest rate for emergency department visits (128.2 per 100,000 pop.) and motorcycle riders 45-54 years of age had the highest hospitalization rate (27.1 per 100,000 pop.) in 2010.

In 2010, the average hospital charge was $78,825 and the average emergency department visit cost $4,901.

71.4% of the South Carolina motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had a valid Class M permit or license.

The leading anatomic site for motorcyclist injuries resulting in an emergency department visit was upper limb fracture, which was the principal diagnosis in 11% of the total motorcyclist injury emergency department visits in 2008.

Among those hospitalized for motorcycle injuries that died in 2008, 74% had a traumatic brain injury