So far, 2022 has been a deadly year for motorcycle riders in Wichita
Wichita is on track for a high number of motorcycle deaths as it enters the deadliest month of the year.
A fatal motorcycle accident June 26 put Wichita at eight for the year. That’s one less than all of last year and a couple short of all of 2020, which had a spike in motorcycle deaths in Kansas and nationwide, according to the nonprofit National Safety Council.
Wichita’s motorcycle deaths so far this year represent a larger share — 35% — of all vehicle fatalities than any other year dating back to 2017, according to police data.
The National Safety Council says motorcycles account for 3% of registered vehicles but make up 14% of all traffic fatalities nationwide.
The spike this year in Wichita’s motorcycle deaths could be at least partly attributed to gas prices. Soaring gas prices have led more people to ride more fuel-efficient motorcycles, said Wichita police Capt. Wendell Nicholson.
Monday’s average national gas price was $4.80, according to AAA. It was $3.12 a year ago.
Speed and alcohol are common factors in motorcycle crashes, Nicholson said. Some of the accidents also involve drivers not seeing a motorcycle.
“I think a lot of times people just don’t see the riders out there,” said Nicholson, who oversees the accident follow-up unit. “We see some accidents that happen at intersections ... you get to the intersection, waiting there for a time and then it finally turns. When you make your turn, there’s a motorcycle rider right there.”
Wichita’s fatal motorcycle accidents this year include two that happened just hours apart in May. The second happened as traffic on Kellogg was backed up from the first. The next fatal motorcycle accident appears to be the one that happened Tuesday.
Nicholson said July has been one of Wichita’s deadliest months for motorcycle accidents. He said the warmer weather usually means more people riding motorcycles, and high gas prices could drive that as well.