(NEWS CENTER) -- The number of motorcycles on Maine roads has increased significantly in the last 10 years, making it even more important for drivers to be aware of riders.
According to the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, there were 48,369 motorcycle registrations in 2009. That's a sharp increase from 2000, when there were 27,535 on the road.
Despite the increase in riders, the Maine Transportation Safety Coalition says the number motorcycle fatalities has remained consistent, averaging about 21 a year for the last 5 years. There has been an average of 592 crashes a year in that same time span.
The MTSC says 188 motorcyclists were killed from 2000 to 2009. Of that number, 123 (or 65%) were not wearing helmets. Maine's helmet law was repealed in 1977. Only 35.6% of riders wear helmets in Maine, compared to 55% for all states without helmet laws.
The MTSC says the most common motorcycle crashes are: run off road, rear-end, head on, and intersection related.
The Maine Transportation Safety Coalition is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1997 to promote safe transportation.