Amarillo Motorcycle Crashes Surge: Over 100 Accidents Reported in the Past Year

Amarillo is a growing city and as the city grows so does the traffic.   In the summer a lot of that traffic is on two wheels.   Summer brings out a multitude of motorcycles.

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There's a reason why so many campaigns are launched during the summer urging people to "Share the Road." According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2023, almost 600 riders died on Texas roads, and almost 2,500 were seriously injured in accidents.

Texas has Almost 400,000 Registered Motorcycles

From June 2023 to July 7, 2024, there were 124 motorcycle crashes in Potter and Randall County, with 8 resulting in fatalities. Many of these accidents occurred due to collisions with drivers of cars who failed to notice the motorcycles or misjudged their distance or speed. Motorcycles can appear farther away than they actually are, which contributes to these accidents.

If you are in a car and on the road, you have just as much responsibility if not more than the motorcyclist sharing the road with you.   While driving especially in the warmer months, it's important to keep an extra eye out for motorcycles.

How to Share the Road:

• Make sure you make a mental note to check to see if motorcycles are nearby.
• Look twice, double check to make sure there are no motorcycles to the left or right, in front or behind you.
• Always use your blinkers and check your blind spots.
• If you are turning left and you see a motorcycle coming your direction, wait and let them pass.   It's hard to determine their distance and speed.
• Keep a good distance between you and a motorcycle if they are in front of you on the road.
• Obey the speed limits.

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By doing this you are protecting yourself as well as those on motorcycles.  Motorcyclists also have to follow the laws and be aware of their surroundings.

Also, something to note for both drivers and motorcyclists, don't drink and drive.  Many of these wrecks found that one or more of those involved in the crash had drugs or alcohol in their system.