Deadly bike crashes in New Hampshire attain highest degree since 2005

This has been the deadliest yr for motorcyclists in New Hampshire in practically 20 years, in accordance with the state’s Workplace of Freeway Security.

To date in 2023, 39 folks have died in crashes involving bikes and mopeds throughout the state, in comparison with a 20-year common of twenty-two deaths per yr, the workplace mentioned in a press launch.

Motorbike crash fatalities haven’t been this excessive since 2005 when 43 folks have been killed, the workplace mentioned. 

“For every life misplaced, many extra lives have been altered perpetually,” Division of Security Assistant Commissioner Eddie Edwards mentioned within the launch.

Of those that have been killed this yr, 35 have been bike drivers, three have been bike passengers, and one was a moped driver, the workplace mentioned. Thirty-one of the fatalities have been males, whereas eight have been girls, and 31 of the 39 fatalities have been New Hampshire residents. 

“This season’s fatality numbers are notably distressing,” Larry Crowe, the state’s bike training coordinator, mentioned within the launch. “ … None of us assume ‘That is the journey that I crash’ after we throw our leg over the bike. Making good decisions, like slowing down, in addition to aggressively predicting site visitors points, might help forestall a crash.”

Amongst those that died in New Hampshire bike crashes this yr was a longtime firefighter and paramedic who was killed in a crash on Route 102 in January. One other New Hampshire man was killed in a bike crash on Route 16 in late April.