PACIFIC PALISADES—A motorcycle with two passengers, one male and one female, crashed into a car on the 17600 block of Pacific Coast Highway at around 11:30 a.m.
According to Los Angeles Fire Department Spokesperson Brian Humphrey, the LAFD responded, but the case was referred to a local West Los Angeles unit. The West Los Angeles police unit helped send the motorcycle passengers to a nearby hospital. The passengers of the vehicle, a male and female, declined paramedic help and were allowed to leave the scene. The northbound lanes of PCH were closed until 12:30 p.m.
According to a 2006 study completed by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 72.34 per 100,000 motorcycles end up in fatal crashes. This is in contrast to the 13.10 per 100,000 cars that end up in fatal crashes. Of the vehicles registered in the United States, about 2 percent include motorcycles, but motorcycle fatalities encompass about 5 percent of the total highway fatalities in a year. The NHTSA also states that motorcyclists are killed in crashes because motorcycles do not offer protection. This is evidenced by the fact that 80 percent of motorcycle crashes result in injury or death, but automobile crash fatalities add up to 20 percent.
The NHTSA has set up motorcycle safety guidelines to help with road safety. The first guideline is the required training course for all motorcyclists. It is also advised that a motorcyclist avoid riding in the blind spot of a car.
