WPD: Thursday Main Ave. Motorcycle Crash Injures Two

WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police report a Thursday Main Ave. motorcycle crash injured the rider and a car passenger at 9:52 p.m.

According to police, the Main Ave. motorcycle crash began as the car was traveling west on Main Avenue when its driver attempted a left hand turn onto Brentwood Avenue. At about the same moment, the motorcycle, traveling east on Main Avenue,  struck the car’s front end passenger’s side.

The passenger and the motorcycle rider suffered non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash. They were each transported to Rhode Island Hospital by Warwick Fire Department Rescue.

Main Avenue has been the scene of several car crashes, pedestrian collisions and motorcycle crashes.

A Main Avenue motorcycle crash closed down the road June 27, 2023 when, as determined by the Warwick Police Traffic Units’ Accident Reconstruction Team,  a motorcyclist traveling east on Main Avenue left its lane, veering to the right and hitting a utility pole at the corner of Trinity Street. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle and landed in the east bound lane. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and was transported to RI Hospital with a life-threatening injury to his leg.

AAA Motorcycle Safety Info

According to AAA, the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that fatal motorcycle crashes are on the rise:

• 5,579 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2020, an increase of eleven percent over 2019 and the highest number since 1975.
• Fatal motorcycle crashes involving alcohol increased by more than four percent across the country in 2020.

Given those statistics, AAA provided the following safety advice for Motorcyclists and car drivers:

Motorcycle tips for car drivers: 

• Check mirrors and blind spots for motorcyclists before entering or leaving lanes of traffic and at intersections. Most multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes occur when drivers simply didn’t see the motorcyclist.
• Signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic. Even when signaling, allow enough time to determine a motorcyclist’s intention before you proceed.
• Increase following distance behind motorcycles and provide time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
• Never try to share a lane with motorcycles – they have the same right to lanes as any other vehicle.

Motorcycle tips for riders: 

• Before you ride, check tire pressure and tread depth. Make sure brakes, headlights, and signal indicators are in working order.
• Make sure any cargo is secure/balanced, adjust suspension and tire pressure to accommodate extra weight.
• Always ride with a helmet that meets the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard – look for the “DOT” symbol on the back. Helmets save lives and are required in New York State.
• Wear other protective gear, such as gloves, a jacket, and pants.
• Make yourself visible. Keep your lights on, wear bright colors and use reflective tape, even during the daytime. Position yourself in the lane where drivers can see you.
• Follow traffic laws, always use turn signals, and combine hand signals with turn signals when you can to make your intentions even more clear.
• Never ride impaired – 27 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2020 involved alcohol, according to NHTSA.