LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A UNLV medical faculty graduate is working to alter the variety of deaths ensuing from bike crashes.
Earlier than David Bandbaz was a health care provider in Utah, he was in his early twenties with a army bonus burning a gap in his pocket — so he purchased a bike.
His love for using stayed with him all through his time at UNLV’s medical faculty, fueling a analysis venture about bike deaths within the valley.
“While looking into it, I learned that like more than 50% of people who die on the motorcycle didn’t even have a license,” Dr. Bandbaz mentioned.
Dr. Bandbaz observed most deaths occur inside a yr of getting a bike. From new riders of their twenties, to older adults getting again on after an extended hiatus.
After prolonged analysis, his professor related him with a Nevada lawmaker. Collectively, they labored to create the brand new legislation.
The legislation makes it in order that if somebody will get pulled over on a bike and would not have a license, they’ve 9 months to take a security course. As soon as that’s carried out and so they get hold of their license, the punishment from the site visitors cease goes away.
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“It kind of showed me that somebody who had no prior interest in, nor experience and knowledge in legislative work could actually kind of figure their way out and make some type of change,” Dr. Bandbaz mentioned.
Bike security specialists like CSN’s Laurie Sanders say that change is a step in the appropriate course in comparison with the prevailing fines.
“Penalizing people monetarily doesn’t necessarily change behaviors,” Sanders mentioned. “And if we’re going to make any positive progress in trying to reduce motorcycle crashes and fatalities, we have to change behavior, and just taking their money away doesn’t necessarily change their behavior.”
Each Sanders and Bandbaz hope that training results in higher conduct.
“I was the 22, 22-year-old who just bought their motorcycle, and because my frontal lobe is not developed, I’m just going out riding and not thinking about it,” Dr. Bandbaz mentioned. “So I just wanted to create as many opportunities for those young guys and girls who just have the same mentality as I did to go and find the path that may help them stay alive.”
In 2024, there have been 61 bike deaths in Clark County, up 22% from the yr prior.
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