Motorcycles

Motorcyclists are more likely to die or to be injured in a motor vehicle crash. Protecting the lives riding on motorcycles requires shared responsibility and cooperation between motorcyclists and other motorists on Texas roads. Motorcyclists and their passengers should always wear DOT-approved helmets, ride sober, wear visible clothing, be predictable, and ride to conditions. Other motorists should watch for and be aware of motorcycles, give them ample space, understand and anticipate motorcyclist behavior, and be predictable as well by using turn signals and driving to conditions.

While motorcycle fatalities had been on a promising downtrend, a significant reversal coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Motorcycle crashes can be devastating and wearing a helmet is the most effective way to protect your brain if you are in a serious crash.

Drivers and passengers should always wear DOT-compliant helmets. It can mean the difference between life and death.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes and motorcycle helmets provide the best protection from head injury for motorcyclists involved in traffic crashes. NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of a crash fatality by 37 percent. A Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) study found that motorcycle helmets are 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries and that unhelmeted motorcyclists involved in crashes were three times more likely to suffer brain injuries than those wearing helmets.

The Look Twice for Motorcycles campaign focuses on enhancing awareness of the presence of motorcycles, reminding motorists to take extra precautions and “see” motorcycles on the road, particularly in metropolitan areas. The small size of a motorcycle can make it appear farther away than it actually is. Drivers either don’t see the motorcycle or misjudge its distance and speed.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle fatalities occurred nearly 27 times more frequently than passenger car occupant fatalities in motor vehicle crashes (Traffic Safety Facts, Nov. 2020, NHTSA 2018 data). The increase in motorcycle fatalities underscores the importance of reminding drivers to pay special attention and look twice for motorcycles. 

TxDOT’s statewide Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles motorcycle safety and public awareness campaign seeks to eliminate motorcycle fatalities by urging motorists to look twice for motorcycles. On average, one motorcyclist dies in a crash on Texas roads every day. The combination of congested roadways, distracted driving, and the difficulty of seeing motorcycles in traffic has led to many preventable fatalities each year.

With more than 380,000 registered motorcyclists in Texas, TxDOT takes a lead role in encouraging all drivers to drive responsibly and share the road.