Colorado Motorcycle Death Toll Rises, Linked to Not Wearing Helmets

Deaths of motorcyclists in Colorado hit a record high in 2015, but they are on pace to be even higher this year. The state Department of Transportation reports that  58 motorcyclists have died this year, up from 51 at the same time last year. Of those, more than half – 34 – were not wearing helmets. Head injuries are the leading cause of death for riders. Motorcyclists make up just 3 percent of vehicles on the road but account for 18 percent of overall fatalities. In a 10-county region of Southwest Colorado, deaths are up from zero in 2015 to five so far this year.