Motorcycle Crash Statistics

Not to be a downer; but these statistics cannot be ignored.

PLEASE!!!

WEAR YOUR HELMET!

DON'T RIDE WHILE INTOXICATED!

WATCH OUT FOR VEHICLES THAT MAY TURN IN FRONT OF YOU!

DON'T SPEED AROUND LIKE A %*$@ING IDIOT!

KEEP YOUR BIKE MECHANICALLY SOUND!


Don't let this happen to you!!!

ARC-CSI Crash test of Maxim into Van




[justify]Motorcycle Accidents Statistics And Possible Causes[/justify]

The Facts

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely experience a deadly accident on the road than those in passenger cars.

In 2006, 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in highway accidents alone.

In 2006, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed in road accidents.

11 percent of all roadway accidents that occur in the United States involve motorcycles.

Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes.

A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 40 percent more likely to die of a head injury than one who wears a helmet.

A motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 15 percent more likely to suffer a nonfatal injury than one who wears a helmet.

It is estimated that helmets reduce the likelihood of a crash fatality by 37 percent.

In 2007, a total of 7.1 million motorcycles were registered in the U.S.

In 2005, the motorcycle fatality rate was 73 per 100,000 registered motorcycles; meanwhile, the passenger vehicle fatality rate in the same year was 14 per 100,000 registrations.

Motorcycle use is growing disproportionately to fatality growth. For instance, in 1997 there were 3,826,373 motorcycles registered in the U.S. and 2,116 motorcycle fatalities. In 2005, there were 6,227,146 motorcycles registered in the U.S. and 4,810 motorcycle fatalities. So, between 1997 and 2005, registrations grew 63 percent while fatalities more than doubled.

A 2009 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute report found that:

More than half of motorcyclist deaths involved at least one other vehicle.

42 percent of two-vehicle fatal motorcycle crashes involved a vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle.

A little less than half of all motorcycle driver deaths involved no other vehicle.

Of the 1,791 motorcycle deaths that involved only the motorcyclist
48 percent were speeding.

42 percent had blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 percent or higher.

655,000 motorcycles were purchased, a decrease from 1.1 million in 2008.

Possible Causes of a Motor Vehicle Accidents

Poor weather conditions;
Not utilizing a turn signal;
Lane splitting, i.e. when a motorcyclist drives between two lanes;
Ignoring traffic conditions;
Ignoring traffic signs;
Disobeying speed limitations;
Driving on the wrong side of the road;
Not seeing a motorcyclist due to glare or other view obstructions;
Inexperienced motorists;
Driving while under the influence of drugs;
Vehicle defects;
Roadway defects;
Intentional hostile actions.

 

Amen dragsta! No doubt that horns should blast their eardrums to kingdom come. I'm with you: If a car is about to pull out or itchin' to do so, I slow down and check my exits.

 

You definitely have to watch out for the other drivers because you know what you are going to do. They don't really pay that much attention to bikes.

 

Some stats on a more positive note - -

* Motorcyclists have 60% of their crashes in their first year.

* Wearing a white helmet reduces your incidence of death by 25%

* Motorcyclists (experienced ones) are SEVEN TIMES more aware of their surroundings than the average driver - which would mean that a biker is a safer car driver as well.

Basically, the experienced, mature Motorcyclist is actually "safer" than the average American motorist, according to some article in the 80"s I read in some motorcycle magazine, maybe "Cycle" or "Motorcyclist".

discussion about statistics

 

Interesting point TIMEtoRIDE. I've noticed that I've become VERY much more aware while driving since I stared riding.

 

time to get a white helmet

 

Always wear a helmet. I'm sure I would dead if not for mine. Good thing it was a full-face or I wouldn't be shaving the left side of my face. As it was, I received a concussion and a cracked cheek bone.