‘Crotch rockets’ lead pack in Las Vegas motorcycle deaths, police say

By Jackie Valley

Wednesday, March 7, 2012 | 2 a.m.

A 26-year-old motorcyclist struck a curb Feb. 4 and landed on a sidewalk. The force of the impact killed him immediately.

The next morning, a 23-year-old man died after the motorcycle he was riding struck a car at an intersection. Three days later, on Feb. 8, a motorcycle and sport utility vehicle collided in an intersection under a yellow light. The 28-year-old man riding the motorcycle died.

On Monday night, police say a speeding motorcycle collided with a pickup truck attempting to make a right turn. The 22-year-old male motorcycle driver died at the scene. His passenger suffered serious injuries.

The pattern in recent tragedies is no coincidence, Metro Police say.

Of the five fatal motorcycle accidents in Metro’s jurisdiction so far this year, authorities say these four wrecks mirror findings in a recent study: The motorcycle victims were younger than 29, and all were riding sport bikes — sexy and sleek models known as “crotch rockets,” capable of reaching speeds near 200 mph. Police say it also appears the motorcyclists were at fault in those accidents.

“The bikes themselves are built for speed and power,” said Lt. Richard Fletcher of Metro’s Traffic Bureau. “Those bikes will outrace anything we have on the department other than a helicopter.”

The number of motorcycle fatalities in Nevada and Las Vegas hasn’t wavered much the past few years, according to state and local data. Statewide, motorcycle fatalities dipped slightly in 2011, down to 40 versus 43 in 2010, according to data from the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety. In Clark County, motorcycle deaths fell from 27 in 2010 to 24 last year.

Even so, a string of motorcycle fatalities this year has Las Vegas police examining what can be done to prevent these accidents, while continuing to urge safe riding.

The department has learned more about motorcycle fatalities in its jurisdiction from a comprehensive traffic study nearing completion that digs into three years’ worth of accident data, Fletcher said.

The study examined motorcycle fatalities from 2009 through 2011 in Las Vegas. Among the study’s key findings:

• Motorcyclists were at fault in 61 percent of fatal accidents.

• Of those motorcyclists at fault, nearly 78 percent were riding sport bikes.

• Overall, sport bikes were involved in 64 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents. Cruisers and standard-model motorcycles made up the remaining 29 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

• Forty-five percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involved riders younger than 30. Riders in the middle age bracket — 30- to 49-year-olds — were involved in 32 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents, with those 50 years and older accounting for the remaining 23 percent.

Fletcher, who says he cringes every time he hears a motorcycle race its engine, said a common denominator in many motorcycle accidents is speed.

“This is a great town to ride a motorcycle,” he said. “It really is because we do have open roads. The horizon looks good, but it doesn’t mean you add speed.”

To curb motorcycle-related deaths, Fletcher says the department wants to work with the Department of Motor Vehicles to distribute safety information to all new registered motorcyclists.

Motorcycle registration increased roughly 3 percent last year, in line with increases for cars, according to data from the DMV.

“Motorcycles are half the cost of a car,” Fletcher said, explaining why registrations could continue increasing. “For five gallons in a tank in motorcycles, you’re going a couple hundred miles easily.”

As more motorcyclists enter the picture, authorities hope drivers take advantage of motorcycle-driving classes offered in various places, such as Harley-Davidson dealerships and the College of Southern Nevada.

Metro has asked Harley-Davidson to include course fees into the cost of a motorcycle, Fletcher said. The department also would like to see the Nevada Legislature clarify language regarding accepted helmets, which are required by state law, he said.

Roger Fox, program administrator for CSN’s motorcycle classes, said the courses attracted a wide age range of students who own all types of motorcycles. The DMV waives testing if graduates of the motorcycle-rider course can present a certificate of completion, he said.

An experienced-rider course, which also serves as a pathway to DMV licensure, helps motorcyclists refine their skills and improve riding techniques in traffic, said Fox, who said he has seen 30-year motorcyclists learn something new in the course.

“That’s what makes it worthwhile for us,” he said. “The light bulb comes on.”

Whether that light bulb stays on, however, is out of instructors’ hands.

Motorcyclists’ safety “all depends on what they do when they leave us,” Fox said.

Authorities say other drivers need to pay attention to motorcycles, but motorcyclists should do their part: Follow speed limits, be aware of surroundings, and wear helmets and other protective gear, Fletcher said.

In other words: “Have fun, but live to tell about it,” he said.