Connecticut town rallies around safety amid rise in motorcycle accidents

Every year in Connecticut, more than 50 motorcyclists lose their lives on the roads, according to the state Department of Transportation.

BURLINGTON, Connecticut — A trauma transformation is underway to make Connecticut safer.

Every year in the state, more than 50 motorcyclists lose their lives on the roads, according to the state Department of Transportation. Advocates want to see this trend come to an end.

“Even a 5 mph crash can be deadly for us. A 5 mph crash in a car [is] barely going to dent the car,” said Bruce LePorte, president of the Traveling Memorial Wall for Fallen Bikers. “It is a pain that no one should ever have to endure.”

Think twice and save a life. It is a pretty simple message, especially when it comes to motorcycle safety. It’s also a message the town of Burlington wants to spread.

As the warm days return, the engines on the motorcycles rev once more, and while the thrill of the open roads draws in riders, human lives hang in the balance. Burlington police officials say motor vehicle crashes involving motorcycles have been on the rise over the past decade.

“I wish I could… be able to prevent that all parents experience the loss of a child,” said Christine Conte, who lost her daughter Jena in 2023 to a motor vehicle accident. “She was soon to graduate college and start an internship program… She was just a good-hearted, nice, kind person, just starting out her life.”

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The Burlington mother took her heartache and turned it into a motorist safety awareness fair to bring more attention to road safety.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, people on motorcycles are 22 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than if they were in a car, and four times more likely to be injured.

The state of Connecticut hit a 35-year high for motorcycle fatalities back in 2022.

“I’ve been doing this for 35 years… and you remember each one of those. Those things don’t leave you,” said Burlington Police Sgt. Ray Buthe.

The raw emotion connected to each of those fatal accidents is one of the most difficult parts of the job, according to Buthe. That’s part of the reason the town chose to make this event a reality.

According to CTDOT’s website, one should practice the following tips while driving near and around motorcycles:

Always check your blind spots.
Be extra cautious when passing.
Remember that motorcycles react more quickly than cars.
Be aware of the weather.
Night-riding. Help riders stay safe after dark by increasing your following distance, ensuring that your high beams are turned off when you notice an approaching motorcycle, and refraining from passing.
Stay in your lane.
Inform motorcyclists of your intention to turn.
Intersections are danger zones.
Watch for turning motorcycles. Self-canceling turn signals did not become standard on motorcycles until the late 1970s. There are still many motorcycles on the road today that do not have the self-canceling turn signals that we are now accustomed to.
Take a second look at left turns. Before you cross a lane or lanes of traffic to turn left, take a second look for approaching motorcycles. Vehicle crashes involving the collision of a left-turning car and an approaching motorcycle can be very severe