Lawmakers Vote on Moped Restrictions to Help to Prevent Accidents
In terms of price and fuel savings, mopeds make good financial sense. Faster than a bicycle but less expensive than a motorcycle, more and more people throughout the Palmetto State are using mopeds as a primary form of transportation. Regardless of your reasons for choosing to drive a moped, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers these two-wheeled vehicles can present on South Carolina roads. Mopeds provide little protection to their riders, and accidental injuries can be severe and life threatening. Proposed changes to state laws could provide increased protections for drivers, while also reducing the number of serious and potentially fatal accidents.
Moped Accidents and Injuries
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), mopeds have experienced a surge in popularity throughout the United States, with moped sales increasing by as much as 60 percent. Unfortunately, the increase in moped drivers has also resulted in an increase moped accidents and injuries. A January 2016 report on South Carolina moped accidents in the Insurance Journal states that 55 people died in moped accidents in 2014, and it is projected that those figures may be as much as 57 percent higher for 2015. The NIH attributes increases in moped accidents to a variety of factors, ranging from driver behaviors such as not wearing helmets, driving while intoxicated, and speeding, to environmental factors, such as road conditions and increases in traffic. Injuries sustained in moped accidents are often severe and even deadly, and include the following:
- Broken bones
- Burns and severe scrapes
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Damage to internal organs
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Proposed Moped Law Passes House
According to a recent article on proposed restrictions, a new bill outlining increased safety precautions and requiring moped to carry insurance has passed in the South Carolina House of Representatives and will now move to the S.C. Senate to be voted into law. The bill is sponsored by representatives from North Charleston and Goose Creek, and would require moped riders to be licensed and insured and their mopeds registered, as well as requiring mopeds to drive under 35 miles per hour and to ride in the far right line when traveling on roads with speeds over 55 miles per hour, and making it mandatory for drivers and passengers on mopeds to wear reflective vests. The bill aims to decrease moped fatalities by increasing visibility while preventing speeding, as well as to ensure that moped drivers who are at fault in accidents have insurance to cover damages that occur.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been hurt or injured in a moped accident, contact Anastopoulo Law Firm today. Our experienced South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys will review your case, and advise you on the best course of action to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your damages and injuries. With offices in Charleston and throughout South Carolina, we can help; call or contact our office online today for a free consultation.
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