Officials: Speeding, reckless driving cause most Onslow Co. motorcycle crashes

May 17--May is historically the month with the most motorcycle crashes in North Carolina.

And this year is no different. At least three motorcycle riders have died in crashes in the past two weeks.

"Typically, it comes from high speed and reckless driving," Highway Patrol Sgt. R. E. Dudley said of motorcycle crashes in Onslow County.

Dudley said many motorcycles can reach an illegal and dangerous 180 miles per hour fresh out of the factory. He said he's seen riders attempting to elude law enforcement at high speeds or head out onto back roads wanting to test the speed on a new purchase.

Many of those driving fast and reckless are young, ages 18 to 25 most often, Dudley said. While there are times where a crash is caused by the driver of a car, Dudley said in Onslow County the Highway Patrol more often finds motorcycle riders being at fault in crashes.

"A lot of our young folks in the military are unfortunately losing their lives on these motorcycles," he said.

May is also Motorcycle Safety Awareness Monthy, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The best practice, Dudley said, is to drive sensibly and anticipate worst case scenarios.

"Drive defensively . . . It's very easy for some folks to overlook a motorcycle," Dudley said.

Adam Fisher and Shawn Kiernan, members of Endangered Species Motorcycle Club, are mourning the loss of their fellow member and friend Preston Tucker McDaniel, 22, of Hubert who died May 1 after colliding with a truck.

Kiernan and Fisher agreed that there are some motorcycle riders who drive recklessly, but said their club has a lot of safety maneuvers they practice regularly, including using "safety bikes" at turns during group rides.

A couple of bikes turn sideways and stay stationary while the rest of the group makes a turn, then the last two bikes join the group, Kiernan said. The group uses the technique to help make the motorcycles more visible to other traffic.

The club also uses hand signals about five seconds prior to turning, keeps their blinker on for approximately 100 meters and flashing their taillights when coming to a stop while maintaining a good distance from cars in order to protect themselves.

"Bikes don't work like cars do," Kiernan said. "We don't have seatbelts."

The two men ask car drivers to stay three-to-four car lengths away from a motorcycle and be aware that when they see a motorcycle, there's usually at least one more.

Tips from Dudley included riding in small groups, wearing protective clothing and taking a motorcycle safety course, like the one offered at Coastal Carolina Community College.

- The college holds two-to-three courses each month from March to December, said Steve Forney, director of skills and trades for continuing education. Classes are not held in January and February due to the high likelihood of dangerous conditions on the road, cold weather and the lack of riders.

Before stepping into the course, Forney said a rider must complete the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic eCourse online, which takes an average of two hours to complete.

"(The course) is making you aware of things about motorcycles, about traffic," Forney said, adding that many riders never thought about some of the points made in the course.

Once the online course is completed, a rider can take the two-day course at the college which is held from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., often on Saturday and Sunday, Forney said. The instructors provide the motorcycles and up to 12 can participate at one time.

A former Marine and bike rider himself, Forney said some recent deaths could have been prevented.

"By and large those (crashes) that were, if you will, caused by the motorcycle rider were areas of risk management where they were in fact taught not to do what they were doing," Forney said.

Forney strongly encourages anyone considering buying a motorcycle to learn safety precautions prior to purchasing one.

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