CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Brian Magness has been riding motorcycles for years.
He’s also a Membership Officer for the Mason Dixon Chapter of the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education of Pennsylvania, A.B.A.T.E. for short.
When he's not revving his engine, Magness is educating motorcyclists and drivers on how to work together to be safe on the road.
“The more people on the road, naturally the more accidents there are going to be. The more licensed motorcyclists are on the roads, the more motorcycle accidents there could be,” Magness said.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported more than 3,000 motorcycle accidents in 2022, with more than 200 of them being fatal.
With almost 800,000 registered motorcyclists in Pa., Magness is afraid of a potential spike in fatal accidents, especially as more riders hit the road over the summer.
“It could be anything from road rage to a piece of wood laying across the road,” Magness said.
Although unpredictable, accidents often happen due to distractions.
“We still drive down the road and see people on their phones, and you can tell who’s on their phone because they’re slowing down, they’re speeding up, they’re swerving for no reason whatsoever,” Magness explained.
So far this year, the York County Coroner has confirmed five deadly motorcycle accidents on roads within the county.
The most recent fatality on a York County road happened in May, during motorcycle safety month.
So, what can drivers and motorcyclists do to stay safe?
“Maintain a safe distance, watch for turn signals, watch your own turn signals, if they don’t have turn signals use your hand signals,” Magness described.
Drivers should also be aware of their vehicle’s blind spots and pay close attention to motorcyclists while driving behind, or next to them, on the road.
A.B.A.T.E. offers free courses to educate motorcyclists on how to ride safely and responsibly.
PennDOT also offers a Motorcycle Safety Program.
