Motorcycle Accident Key Facts

Introduction

Motorcycle riding has become more popular in recent years, appealing to a new group of enthusiasts consisting of older and more affluent riders. Sales of all types of two-wheelers reached about 1,116,000 in 2005, a level not seen in about 30 years. At the same time, motorcycle fatalities have also been climbing, reading their highest level in 2005 since 1986. There has been a dramatic jump in the number of deaths among motorcycle riders age 40 and older in recent years.

Key Facts

In 2005, 4,553 people died in motorcycle crashes, up 13 percent from 4,028 in 2004. The 13% increase was the largest since 1977.

Motorcycle crash fatalities have increased for eight years in a row.

There were 5.8 million motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2004, according to the latest data available, compared with 133.3 million passenger cards. Motorcycles accounted for 2.4 percent of all registered motor vehicles and 0.3 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2004.

Some 88,000 motorcycles were involved in crashes in 2004.

Motorcyclists were 34 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash in 2004, per vehicle mile traveled, and 8 times more likely to be injured.

The fatality rate for motorcyclists was 4.8 times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants per registered vehicle in 2004.

Studies Show

The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominant cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision. This also involves lane changes and automobiles or trucks pulling out from a side street or driveway.

Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most often a passenger automobile. Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.

Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.

The view of the motorcycle or the other vehicle involved in the accident is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles in almost half of the multiple vehicle accidents.

Whether the motorcycle is conspicuous is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.

The typical motorcycle pre-crash lines-of-sight to the traffic hazard portray no contribution of the limits of peripheral vision; more than three-fourths of all accident hazards are within 45deg of either side of straight ahead.

The typical motorcycle accident allows the motorcyclist just less than 2 seconds to complete all collision avoidance action.

The likelihood of injury is extremely high in these motorcycle accidents-98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents resulted in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury. Half of the injuries to the somatic regions were to the ankle-foot, lower leg, knee, and thigh-upper leg.

Groin injuries were sustained by the motorcyclist in at least 13% of the accidents, which typified by multiple vehicle collision in frontal impact at higher than average speed.

Related Topics

Motorcycle fatalities and injuries
Motorcycle safety issues
Motorcycle helmet use
Motorcycle riders’ rights