Motorcycle Accidents

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In Pennsylvania, motorcyclists are subject to the same speed restrictions as other vehicles. All motorcyclists are required to drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent. 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3521 Any speed in excess of the following speeds is evidence of unreasonable driving:

• 15 mph approaching a school crossing 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3365
• 25 mph in a residential district75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3362
• 35 mph in an urban district 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3365
• 65 mph on all highways 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3362
• 55 mph in other locations 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3362

Per mile driven, motorcyclists are about 14 times more likely than persons in a car to die in a motor vehicle crash, and they're about 3 times more likely to be injured. While motorcycles make up less than 2 percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S., motorcyclists account for 6 percent of total traffic deaths. Almost half (42 percent) of all motorcyclist fatalities in 1999 resulted from crashes in seven states: 236 in Pennsylvania, 182 in Texas, 177 in Florida, 120 in Ohio, 111 in Pennsylvania, 107 in New York, and 106 in North Carolina. In 1999, 41 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding, approximately twice the rate for drivers of passenger cars or light trucks. The percentage of alcohol involvement was more than 50 percent higher for motorcyclists than for drivers of passenger vehicles.

Wearing a helmet lowers a motorcycle rider's risk of fatal injury by 29 percent and reduces the risk of traumatic brain injury by 67 percent. Despite the documented effectiveness of helmets, many motorcyclists choose not to wear them, especially when state laws don't require helmet use. Surveys show that in states without universal helmet laws, only 34 to 54 percent of motorcycle riders wear helmets. But in states where helmet use is mandatory for all riders, 98 percent of motorcyclists use this safety gear. Currently, less than half of the states require helmet use by riders of all ages.

In Pennsylvania, motorcyclists are subject to the same speed restrictions as other vehicles. All motorcyclists are required to drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent. Generally, any speed in excess of the following speeds is evidence of unreasonable driving:

• 15 mph approaching a school crossing;75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3365
• 25 mph in a residential district;75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3362
• 35 mph in an urban district;75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3362
• 65 mph on all highways;75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3362
• 55 mph in other locations, unless the director of highway traffic states otherwise.75 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3365

In most other locations the Department of Transportation department may determine and declare a prima facie speed limit of 60, 55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30 or 25 miles per hour, whichever is found most appropriate.