The rate of unlicensed fatally injured motorcycle drivers during 2020 was higher than the rate of unlicensed fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers (38 percent vs. 20percent). [3] It was also 14% in 2008. [6], From 1980 motorcycle ownership among riders aged 40 and over increased dramatically, from 15.1 percent of all riders in 1980 to 43.7 percent in 1998. The table below shows Occupant Fatality Rates by vehicle type, 2010 and 2019: Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the MIC Owner survey, 71% of riders are employed while the rest are retired. However, do you know how many machines are currently on the road? [21] However, they account for a relatively smaller amount of the total miles traveled (motorcycles are often only driven in good weather) about 0.7% of all vehicles miles traveled 2012. The proportion of fatally injured ATV riders who were 40 and older increased from 9 percent in 1982 to 41 percent in 2020. For additional statistics, contact Driver and Vehicle Services at 717-412-5300. Imagine the difference in bodily protection for a standard vehicle vs. a motorcycle. According to Statista, in 2020, the total number of public, personal, and commercial motorcycles registered in the US states and the District of Columbia totaled approximately 8.32 million. Twenty-seven percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers in 2020 had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08 percent; in single-vehicle crashes this was41 percent. The average driver experiences vehicle-related accidents every six years, with near misses up to twice a month. Wearing proper safety gear and staying vigilant can make a world of difference. The chances of getting injuries in a bike accident are incredibly high. [22] Combined driver and passenger deaths for motorcycles were 18% of all driver and passenger deaths in 2012 for all vehicles. Here are some motorcycle riding stats that can help you stay informed and hopefully safer. It also represents why motorcycle riders are 29 times more likely to die in a crash, based on a comparison of vehicle miles driven, than drivers and passengers of other types of vehicles. Motorcycle helmet effectiveness revisited(Report No. Motorcycle Helmet Use, 2000-2021 (1) (1) Based on surveys of motorcyclists using helmets meeting Department of Transportation standards. Just about 89% of fatal motorcycle accidents occur when the skies are clear or cloudy. Surveys conducted in October for 1996-2000 and in June thereafter. The behavior of drivers and motorcyclists appears as the underlying cause of accidents, including: The NHTSA reports that 42% of motorcyclists killed in single-vehicle crashes were impaired by alcohol, and 30% of riders did not have a valid license to operate a motorcycle. This, in turn, can help save lives by developing new safety features and the increased use of currently available equipment, such as anti-lock brakes and helmets, that offer riders better control over their vehicles or provide increased protection when they crash. [26] Despite the focus on the head and helmet protection, it is possible for handlebars to castrate males in accident and damage done to the lower spine can leave men alive but paralyzed. At 80 percent, helmet use was highest among fatally injured drivers of supersport motorcycles in 2020, followed closely bysport/unclad sport at77 percent andsport-touring at64 percent. [2] In 2008, 47% of fatal accidents were with another vehicle, and of those 77% involved a head-on collision with a motorcycle and in 7% the motorcycle was struck from behind. Motorcyclists over the age of 40 are injured in accidents about 20 times more often than drivers of the same age. Motorcycle protective clothing reduces the chance of open-wound injuries, as stated by the George Institute for Global Health. United States motorcycle fatalities increased every year for 11 years after reaching a historic low of 2,116 fatalities in 1997, then increased to over 5,000 around 2008 and then plateaued in the 4 to 5 thousands range in the 2010s. The state Department of Safety said two deaths occurred on Saturday, NewsNation affiliate KELO reported on Sunday. Considering the number of registered motorcyclists, a little over 1% of them are involved in motorcycle crashes every year.Then again, not all motorcycle accidents (especially the minor ones) are reported, meaning the actual numbers are higher. Copyright 2023, Insurance Information Institute, Inc. Helmets are about 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle deaths However, only 40% of the riders involved in an accident wore a helmet. [4][8] There is a reported 80% chance of injury or death on a motorcycle in the event of an accident, compared to about 20% for passenger vehicles. In 2000, it was 9% while in 1990 it was only 1%. Passenger vehicle occupant deaths and motorcyclist deaths, 1975-2020. It is not like driving a car. The table displayed below shows the number of killed people by person type in U.S. motorcycle accidents: Riding on two wheels rather than four makes motorcycles less stable than other vehicles, which makes the riders skill level important in being able to maintain control. Do not ride a bike unless you took the time to go through a course and get a license. However, they are far more devastating and far-reaching in their consequences for the rider and passenger. [4][36], In the US, the NHTSA defines the following vehicles as motorcycles: mopeds, two- or three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, scooters, mini Fifty-two percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2020 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways. In 2019, motorcycle riders involved in deadly accidents had higher percentages of alcohol (29%) than drivers of other motor vehicles. However, too much power, and the inexperience of many supersport motorcycle riders, make them incredibly dangerous on the open road. These are the bikes with quite a bit of power. Motorcyclists and their passengers are more vulnerable to the hazards of weather and road conditions than drivers in closed vehicles. As a matter of fact, in 2019, two-thirds of these deaths occurred in places that werent intersections. Fatalities by county Fatalities by month Questions? NCSA has also changed the methodology of estimating people nonfatally injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. A total of5,579 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2020. Do you know where a helmet impact occurs the most? [13], Even moderate impacts in an accident may break the pelvis bone, which is one of the largest bones in the body and often bears the brunt of impacts with ground and objects during motorcycle crash or accident. (More on Safety Ratings here.). For example, 61% of fatal motorcycle crashes occurred in urban settings and slightly under 39% in rural areas. (Georgia Injury Lawyer) Running into objects causes nearly a quarter of motorcyclist fatalities, compared to 18% of car crash deaths. Some of the primary motorcycle accident causes are reckless driving, alcohol use, and speeding. That said, dont let this fact keep you away from the activity you enjoy the most. The Safety Programs and Crash Data unit provides fatal data and statistics used to develop performance targets, performance tracking, and trends that are used to help reduce the fatalities on Colorado roadways. That is the highest number recorded and an 11 percent increase from 2019. The anecdotal speed of about 86 mph only happens once in 1,000 cases. How dangerous is it really for motorcyclists on Americas roads? The rate of severe motorcycle accidents today is significantly higher than car accidents, despite cars dominating the road. Considering that riding a motorcycle without a helmet has serious consequences, one wonders why so many US states havent made helmets compulsory for all riders. What Type of Motorcycle Has the Most Accidents? Then again, around 84,000 motorcyclists sustained injuries in 2019, representing a 2% rise from the previous year. The majority of fatal crashes, 52.61%, involved a motorcycle and one other vehicle. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that driving a motorcycle increases your risk of death by 26 times more than if you drove a car when a crash takes place. Do you know where bike crashes are more likely to happen? The accompanying chart shows that single-vehicle crashes, such as a motorcyclist losing control of the vehicle on a wet or snow-covered road account for 39.87% of fatal accidents. The proportion younger than age 20 decreased from 54 percent in 1982 to18 percent in 2020. About half of fatally injured drivers of touring motorcycles and of cruisers or standard motorcycles were helmeted. It is noteworthy that the demographic most commonly associated with riding is the over-40 group. US Forest Service accused of failing to protect meadow mouse A 66-year-old man was killed Saturday morning when he lost control of his motorcycle in Sturgis, hit a curb and fell off the motorcycle. The IIHS reveals that there are 8.3 million registered motorcycles currently on American roads. Further SCHP data also shows more than half of bikers who died in wrecks didn't . ), 93% of the crashes in 2012 involved a two-wheeled motorcycle. Some statistics can be quite helpful, while others are fun to know. Since motorcyclists lack the surrounding protective structure of other vehicles, they are more likely to sustain severe injuries, or even fatal ones, after a crash.Namely, motorcycle fatalities occurred nearly 29 times more frequently compared to passenger car occupant deaths in crashes in 2019. The motorcyclist exceeds the performance abilities of the bike and crashes. Of the 109,000 accidents, 62,000 involved a collision with a motor vehicle. Namely, some of the motorcycles which are more commonly involved in crashes are cruisers.Moreover, street bikes and MX/Enduro motorcycles also account for a high number of crashes. For motorcycle riders, America's roads have never been more deadly. Moreover, in 2019, around 66% of single-vehicle motorcycle accidents occurred due to the riders error.On top of that, 42% of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2019 were alcohol-impaired. The chart from the NHTSA compares helmet usage by type of helmet and the percentage of riders wearing them in states with and without universal helmet laws. Besides that, Bank Rate underscores that wearing a motorcycle helmet is 67% more effective in preventing brain injuries in motorcyclists. Speeding, distracted driving, and drunk drivers can be deadly, and other vehicles on the road pose the biggest risk. Research shows that helmets are effective at reducing the risk of head injury by 69%. Only in 1/1000 is the speed at 86 mph. In contrast, 91% of deadly events occur on roads that are not interstates. However, although riding is a popular trend, statistics show that theres still much room for improvement. This happens primarily because of an obstructed view. Wear appropriate safety gear: Regardless of the laws in your state, wear a DOT-approved. This chart from the NHTSA shows the percentage of motorcyclists using a DOT-approved helmet. Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Approximately 66% of the time that a helmet impact occurs, its around the forehead and chin bar areas, as stated by Dietmar Otte. Citing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the III explains that 5,014 motorcyclists died in 2019. GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) South Carolina reported more deaths on motorcycles in 2021 than any year in the past four decades. Head-on collisions are quite prominent in motorcycle crashes and are behind 78% of deaths in motorcyclists in Nevada. Face injuries occurred in 10% of collisions. This chart from the National Safety Council shows you the percentage of riders wearing helmets and the lives saved in any year from 2002 through 2019. [30], When an accident does happen, there is a reported 80% chance of injury or death on a motorcycle in comparison to about 20% for passenger vehicles. The remaining fatal crashes involved three or more vehicles. If you were asked to guess the type of weather conditions that prove most dangerous for motorcycle riders and guessed rain or snow, you are wrong. Statisticians warn that choppers are likely under-counted because they are a new classification. Lower extremity injuries occurred in 47% of collisions. Teen motor vehicle fatalities (age 16-19) decreased 25.2% from 219 in 2018 to 164 in 2019. Motorcycles are by their nature far less crashworthy than closed vehicles. Putting it differently, for every 100 motorcycle riders without helmets killed in accidents, 37 could have been saved if all 100 wore helmets. Deaths were more likely to occur in urban than rural areas (60 percent vs. 38 percent). Estimates show helmets to be 37% effective in preventing rider fatalities and 41% effective in preventing passenger deaths. [35] Compared to passenger vehicles, motorcycles had 28 times the number of fatalities as cars per mile driven in 2016. They do a great job of preventing death by almost 37%. Bike & Parts Manufacturing in the US Market Size Growth in 2021 1.3% Motorcycle, Bike & Parts Manufacturing in the US Annualized Market Size . (1) Based on surveys of motorcyclists using helmets meeting Department of Transportation standards. The vast majority of male motorcyclists who died were drivers. bikes, and pocket bikes. Motorcyclist deaths from not wearing a helmet decreased 18% from 34 in 2018 to 28 in 2019. After checking the weather forecast before heading out, make sure you also look at the route you plan to take and the address of your destination. California wasnt that far behind Florida, with 474 people dying in motorcycle accidents. Cities have busy roadways with lots of traffic including standard road traffic and commercial delivery trucks. As many as 69% of questioned Millennials mentioned that theyre more interested in electric bikes due to their sustainability and environmental impact. Sixty-one percent of the female motorcyclists who died in crashes in 2020were passengers, and their deaths represented 92 percent of the passenger deaths. Fifty percent of motorcyclist deaths in 2020 occurred on weekends, and those deaths were more likely to occur after 6 p.m. compared with weekdays. Although touring bikes also made a good showing at 21.8%, the overwhelmingly favorite motorcycle is the cruiser. You have undoubtedly seen your fair share of Yamaha V-Max and BMW R18s on the road. Even so, in only 18 states, is there a mandatory motorcycle helmet law. Those numbers rose in 2020 where 172 fatal accidents killed 170 in 2020. However, it is head-on collisions with cars that make up one of the biggest types of fatal collisions. All states in the US, except Florida, require motorcycle owners to have some sort of motorcycle insurance. It is important to understand that injuries involving motorcycles can be devastating. Motorcycle helmets save lives and reduce the severity of injuries to riders and their passengers. Reflective tape applied to your helmet increases visibility. Only 2% of all motorcycle accidents are caused by roadway damage, potholes, and pavement ridges. In contrast, motorcycle helmet statistics reveal that only 9% of killed motorcyclists werent wearing a helmet in states with universal helmet laws. [22] (see also Motorized tricycle), Of 4,957 killed in 2012 on motorcycles, 7% were passengers. Motorcycle Accident experts consider common causes of fatal motorcycle accidents to be speeding, riding while drunk, lane splitting, sudden lane changes, and overall reckless motorcyclist driving. In detail, that was the case for 674 people in this age group. [10] Motorcycle accidents are risk factor for injuries to testicles, delicate reproductive organs that are contained in thin skinned sac outside the body in males. More than 8.6 registered motorcycles attest to their continued popularity as an economical mode of transportation. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Statistics. In 2020, 88 percent of fatally injured motorcyclists were helmeted in states with helmet laws that cover all riders, in contrast to only32 percent in states with no helmet law. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Weve included information on road safety, bike crashes, and several other things you might want to know about. [2] 59% of those killed were wearing a helmet, which were estimated to give a 37% increased chance of overall survival and reduction in the chance of a head injury; helmet use has been the subject of various studies and laws. Also, as much as 57% of all female riders will choose a new bike over a used one. No attorney/client relationship shall be expressly or impliedly created between The Motorcycle Legal Foundation, and you, by the publishing of articles on this site, or by comments by any party including contributors of the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, nor should you interpret that any such relationship has been created by the publishing of any content on this site. The rate at which they occur seems to be split almost equally between daytime and nighttime hours.