It may not be something that you like to think about, but motorcycling is a dangerous activity. There are no walls, seat belts, or air bags to protect you when you crash. If you’re riding a motorcycle and you hit the pavement, or another car, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re going to get injured, or even die.
Every year the U.S Department of Transportation releases statistics on motorcycle fatalities with the help of FARS, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent statistics currently available are from 2009.
Here are some motorcycle fatality facts from the report.
- 4,281 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2009.
- 22% of motorcyclists that died in 2009 did not have a valid license.
- 55% of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2009 involved another vehicle.
- More than half of motorcyclists killed in 2009 were wearing helmets. In states that require helmet use, 85% of fatal crashes involved helmeted motorcyclists.
- 90% of motorcyclist killed in 2009 were male.
- 30% of fatal motorcycle crashes involved a driver with a BAC greater than .08.
Motorcycle fatalities only represent about a fifth of all fatalities on the road. In 2009, there were 23,437 fatalities involving passenger vehicles. But that doesn't mean that motorcycles are a safer way to travel. If you look at the amount of miles traveled, the government estimates that motorcycle deaths are 37 times more likely to occur.
Motorcycle Deaths VS Passenger Vehicle Occupant Deaths
If you look at motorcycle deaths by age, you might be surprised to find out that young riders do not represent the majority of motorcycle fatalities. In 1975, riders under the age of 30 accounted for 80% of motorcycle deaths. Today, riders over 50 have the most fatal accidents. (It’s interesting to note that a rider in his 20’s in 1975 would be in his 60s today. Did that generation just have bad riders?)
Motorcycle Fatality Chart by Age
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that motorcycle fatalities can be greatly reduced by proper helmet use. The IIHS reports that helmets are 37% effective at preventing motorcycle deaths, and 67% effective in preventing brain damage.
The IHSS has an in-depth breakdown of the the U.S. Department of Transportation's motorcycle fatality report here.
Comments
1) The NHTSA admit VMT's for MC's are made-up: pg 16 of of this PDF: http://goo.gl/O11kN.
2) In 2009 the NHTSA decided it's time to change the definition of "motorcycle" when the statistics didn't match the NHTSA's expectations and agenda: http://goo.gl/7GYRD
The NHTSA admits the FHWA estimated motorcycle VMT for States that did not report based on data from States that did report. The accuracy of these estimates was thus quite speculative.
When you go to buy a helmet, that DOT sticker doesn't mean it actually meets the FMVSS 218 standards. It's just a sticker. Of the 39 helmets randomly tested by the NHTSA in 2008, 47% FAILED! Basically, you have a 50/50 chance of buying a helmet meeting FMVSS 218 based on that sticker. (PDF @ http://goo.gl/HMCSm)
I have zero faith in the NHTSA. I trust their statistics even less.
Head Injury ... Helmet Not Used 14,511 Helmet Used 22,266
Motorcyclists Injured Un-helmeted = 19,405 Helmeted = 38,751
Whoops, once again as with, every year the raw data consistently shows that helmets are BAD for bikers ... year after year, it shows helmets contribute to death and injuries on the road ... if anyone would bother to read the data and not the slanted reports by people who have a vested interest in helmet use ... Chopper Charlie
Why state this as "88% of motorcyclists that died in 2009 had a license" Whup ti do, a license won't save you.
I think your data may be more valuable if you only used the motorcycle driver fatalities vs the other vehicle driver fatalities, after all passengers are almost never the cause of the accident. Using passenger fatalities skews how bad the problem is.
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