Summer is high season for motorcyclists. St. Louis offers miles of great roads to travel and sights to see. While the road offers many adventures, it also offers many hazards.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, every year roughly 25 motorcyclists suffer serious injuries and several are killed on roadways in and around St. Louis. In 2014, 20 motorcyclists were killed in St. Charles, St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis. Before you head out on the road, make sure you know which highways are the most dangerous for motorcyclists.
St. Louis highways are some of the most dangerous in the United States. Specifically, a National Highway Traffic Administration analysis of serious and fatal accidents across the country found that four of the most hazardous highways lead into and around St. Louis.
Dangerous Highways in St. Louis
I-70 - I-70 has earned the distinction of being one of the most dangerous interstates in the nation. The stretch between St. Charles and St. Louis is heavily travelled by people going to work and to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Construction during the summer months is likely to make this area even more hazardous.
I-64 - Heading from St. Louis to Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois, I-64 has been the site of 16 motorcycle (?)fatalities in four years
I-55 - Hugging the Mississippi south of St. Louis to Mehlville, I-55 has become a dangerous road for motorcyclists.
I-44 - The main thoroughfare to Oklahoma City, the heavy traffic along I-44 has been responsible for more than 190 fatal motor vehicle accidents in four years, several involving motorcyclists.
Serious Motorcycle Injuries
Motorcyclists hit by other drivers often suffer severe injuries or are killed because of the size and weight disparity of the vehicles. Nearly a quarter of all motorcyclists suffer disabling injuries when involved in an accident. The best way for motorcyclists to protect themselves is to make sure they are wearing reflective clothing and adequate protective gear, including a helmet.
A leading cause of motorcycle accidents continues to be collisions with other vehicles.. Drivers who are distracted with cell phones are a growing danger. Motorcyclists must remain vigilant of their environment.
Despite the hazards posed by others on the road, motorcyclists are often wrongly blamed when there is an accident. Motorcyclists who are seriously injured in accidents and family members who lose a loved one in a catastrophic crash may benefit from talking with a skilled personal injury attorney, who can ensure their rights are protected.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertising.
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