According to registration information, motorcycles account for roughly 3% of all vehicles on the road in the United States. However, that small segment of vehicles accounts for a shocking 17% of all fatality vehicle accidents. A contributing factor is the lack of protection from impact as provided by a car or truck. This accounts for a motorcyclist being 28 times more likely to die due to an accident than the driver of a car, truck, or SUV.
Looking at the Numbers for a Single Year
In 2021, there were over 5,900 motorcycle riders killed in traffic accidents. Sadly, the high number of fatalities in that year provided another startling piece of information. Of the deaths occurring in 2021, 2,251 of the victims were not wearing a protective helmet. This vital piece of safety equipment protects the head and face of the rider when struck by another vehicle, ejected from the motorcycle, or when suffering impact with the road. In this year, there were more motorcycle fatalities than in any other year since the Fatality Analysis Reporting System began tracking such information in 1975.
When Are Motorcycle Accidents More Common?
About a quarter of all motorcycle fatalities occur on the weekends, with most happening between 6 pm and 9 pm. The data shows that most of these victims are recreational riders, not those who typically ride each day and use their motorcycles as a means of commuting to work. The lack of time on the bike and the more challenging conditions, including limited visibility, increase the potential for riders to suffer injury accidents and fatalities during these peak recreational hours.
Do Helmets Prevent Motorcycle Rider Fatalities?
The Department of Transportation provides guidelines for motorcycle helmet construction and safety features. The DOT is the gold standard for helmet safety. According to their studies, 37 of every 100 rider fatalities could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a DOT-approved helmet. The good news coming from helmet studies is that 67% of motorcycle operators and 52% of their passengers wear a DOT-approved helmet when riding.
Those who typically do not wear a helmet often comment that it reduces their field of view, making them feel less safe. However, it is vital to understand that more than 75% of all motorcycle accidents occur when the rider hits something that is in front of them. With DOT standards, helmets never block any of the view of oncoming traffic from a motorcyclist’s view. Only 7% of bike crashes occur when the motorcycle is struck from behind, which can be more difficult for the rider to see and attempt to avoid. It is false logic that helmets obstruct the view of riders and can increase the potential for an accident.
Alcohol and Motorcycles Are a Deadly Combination
More than a quarter of all deadly motorcycle accidents involve alcohol consumption by the rider. Single-vehicle motorcycle fatalities involving a rider under the influence account for about 40% of impaired rider deaths. In 2020, that translated to over 875 deaths. The other common factor in many alcohol-related motorcycle fatalities is they occur three times more frequently at night than they do during the day. The popularity of evening rides, the lack of time in the seat for recreational riders, and the added challenges of low or no light driving make this more challenging for all riders and often deadly for those who consumed alcohol before operating a motorcycle at night.