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<< Previous   of   Next >> Mark Mulligan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Officers investigate the scene of a fatal motorcycle accident at Highway 92 and 127th Drive NE in Lake Stevens on Tuesday.   ADVERTISEMENT   By the numbers Six people have died on motorcycles in Snohomish County since January. In 2000, four people died on motorcycles in Snohomish County. By 2006, that number was 12. From 1997 to 2006, there has been a 185 percent increase in motorcycle fatalities statewide. Most motorcycle fatalities occur during the day. The hours between 2 and 6 p.m. are the deadliest. Nearly half of the people killed on motorcycles were speeding. A third were above the legal limit for alcohol consumption. More motorcycle deaths happen on rural road and highways than on urban streets. Washington Traffic Safety Commission   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, July 26, 2008 Number of motorcycle deaths increasing in Washington Drivers need extra training and caution, officials warn By Jackson Holtz, Herald Writer Fatal motorcycle accidents are on the rise in Washington, including three since June 30 in Snohomish County. There have been two deaths in the past seven days. "We have seen a steady increase in motorcycle fatalities and we're very concerned about that," said Elly Martin, a spokeswoman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The rise in motorcycle fatalities bucks the declining rate of traffic deaths in Washington state, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The deadliest months for motorcycles in the past have been June through September. This year is keeping pace. On July 19, Michael Wallace, 50, of Monroe, died along U.S. 2, near Index. On Tuesday, Benjamin Charles Salzano Jr., 25, of Snohomish, was killed on Highway 92 in Lake Stevens. On June 30, a Newcastle man, 44, died on Highway 203 south of Monroe. Other fatal crashes this year have occurred in Lynnwood, Everett and Snohomish. "We don't want to see these continued deaths happening," Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said. As gas prices hover well above $4 a gallon, more people are turning to fuel-efficient motorcycles instead of fuel-guzzling sport utility vehicles. This is the busiest year for the motorcycle industry ever, said Bill Davidson, president and owner of the Motorcycle Safety Company which offers training classes in Everett. "We can teach safety until our little hearts quit beating but we can't teach common sense," he said. Motorcycles are powerful, complex machines that require special training. Riders should always wear a helmet and protective gear, experts said. The two recent fatal crashes in Snohomish County were blamed on people in cars who didn't see the motorcycles. Still, the riders are found to be at fault in the majority of deaths, said Lowell Porter, the state traffic safety commission's director. Many people ride safely and motorcycling can be an enjoyable sport, he said. Still, a few spoil the day for others. Speed is the biggest cause of motorcycle fatalities, followed closely by drug and alcohol impairment, he said. Porter, who owns a Harley-Davidson, won't ride if he's had anything to drink. "It's insane, in my opinion," he said. Around 44 percent of people killed riding motorcycles didn't have the proper endorsement on their licenses, Porter said. Riders in Washington must either pass written and road tests or show proof they've completed a state-authorized training course. State law allows police to impound a bike if they stop the rider and learn he or she isn't properly licensed. Officials are especially concerned about baby boomers, older men, who are returning to riding a motorcycle after being off a bike for most of their lives. Many people open up the barn, dust off an old bike and hit the road, said David Wendell, owner of Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Safety, a training school in north Seattle. Or they buy large, powerful motorcycles they're not prepared to operate. "They haven't done training. They don't have an endorsement. They don't have insurance, and now they're out there on the road with the rest of us," Wendell said. The largest percentage of people who die on motorcycles are men 40 and older, according to state statistics. Still, younger people on motorcycles often display a daring disregard for traffic laws and safety, Leary said. On Wednesday night, an 18-year-old man was thrown from his bike after reaching 70 mph on I-5 in Everett, the trooper said. He wasn't paying attention, didn't see a car, lost control of the bike and fell. The man survived but suffered severe road rash and was cited for second-degree negligent driving, Leary said. Even good riders sometimes can get snared in an accident. On Thursday, Rory Myers, 46, of Mill Creek, suffered scrapes and bruises at the intersection of Highways 9 and 92 in Lake Stevens. "I'm thankful for my helmet because my head did hit the pavement," he said. He blames grease or oil on the road for causing him to slide and clip a pickup before he lost control and ditched. Myers said he gave up his Ford F-150 pickup truck to ride a motorcycle to work in Arlington, saving him around $340 each month in fuel costs. Although he has 30 years of motorcycle experience, he still took a training class before returning to riding for his commute, he said. "You have to be road smart when you're riding a bike. You're not protected by the metal like when you're riding in a car; you have to be aware of your surroundings all the time," he said. Now, state officials hope that public education, enforcement and awareness will reduce motorcycle deaths. "Pay 100 percent attention to your driving all the time and we're going to see a drop in these," Leary said. Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.

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