DALLAS -- Fatal motorcycle accidents are at their highest levels nationwide since 1987, and Dallas is on track to beat last year's numbers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the nationwide increase can be attributed to rider inexperience, riding while drunk and other factors. Dallas police said those are the same reasons for the local increase.

---

Motorcycle Deaths On The Rise

---

"It is related to a lot of factors that we've seen here," Sr. Cpl. Janice Crowther said. "And one of those factors includes maybe motorcyclists using alcohol and not wearing a helmet."

Motorcycle store owner Frank West said tragedies can be easily avoided.

"I have had customers that in first few weeks of ownership of a motorcycle have wrecked their motorcycle, and it's usually because of inexperience," he said.

Paul Johnson said he's been riding since 1963. He's had close calls through the years, he said, but he's been lucky.

"There's two things that really count," he said. "One is absolute focus on what it is that you're doing, and the other is riding within your ability."

There have been 13 fatal motorcycle accidents in Dallas so far this year. On Tuesday, a motorcycle rider died at the corner of Columbia Avenue and Munger Boulevard in east Dallas after a pickup truck hit him and then sped off.

The Department of Transportation is launching a new campaign to try and reduce motorcycle fatalities. The effort includes new national training standards for new riders.