Don't Become Another Number: 10 Alarming Motorbike Accident Statistics
There are some people who love motorbikes. It's understandable. They can be fun, provided you take the appropriate safety measures.
If you decide to rent or buy a motorbike, take care. If you cause an accident, you may need the services of a skilled Salt Lake city motorcycle accident lawyer.
You should also be aware of the stats we'll talk about in this article. They illustrate the potential danger involved with motorbikes and make it evident why you need to be cautious if you decide to operate one.
You're 28 Times More Likely to Die in a Motorbike Accident
You are 28 times more likely to die if you're involved in a motorbike crash as compared to a car accident. That's staggering, and it's perhaps the most arresting statistic we'll share in this article. What's also noteworthy is that this number tends to stay close to the same year by year.
You're Four Times More Likely to Be Injured
You are also four times more likely to sustain some form of injury if you're in a crash while operating a motorbike versus one where you're driving a car. If you think about that, it makes sense.
When you're driving a car, you have a protective metal shell around you. You're also held in place by a seatbelt, assuming you're wearing one. This combination helps you tremendously. These safeguards aren't in place with motorbikes.
2021 Stats
If you go back to 2021, you'll see that 83,000 motorbike riders were injured nationwide. That number, much like the fatality stat we shared earlier involving motorbike riders, doesn't fluctuate all that much. It's another stark reminder that if you take a motorbike out on the road where there are larger cars, it's automatically a risk, regardless of how careful you are.
Vehicle Miles Traveled
There's another stat that's sometimes cited with vehicular collisions. It's how much injuries are sustained per vehicle miles traveled.
Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, there are 468 motorbike injuries. That might not sound like a lot, but if you look at how many similar injuries there are for people in cars, the number is much smaller. It's another sobering stat that points to the danger inherent with motorbikes when you compare them to other, larger vehicles.
Improperly Trained Riders
If you take the time to learn how to ride a motorbike properly, that should help you to some degree. The numbers back that up.
If you look at the total number of individuals who didn't receive the proper training in motorbike operation before they started riding, you'll see that 36% of those who were involved in crashes didn't have enough lessons before they got out on the road. Others in this group were unlicensed.
This teaches a fairly obvious lesson. If you're going to ride a motorbike, at the very least, make sure you took the proper lessons beforehand and that you have the right type of license.
Wet Weather Accidents
Here's a stat that you might find to be a little surprising. The total number of motorbike crashes that involve wet weather is only 2%.
That seems strange when you think that wet weather is likely to make riding motorbikes considerably more perilous. However, it's not because of more or less danger that rainy conditions impose.
Instead, it's because most motorbike riders know that riding when it's raining is exceedingly difficult. Accordingly, most of them understand that staying off the road is the best move if rain is in the forecast.
Watch Out in August
If you're going to get out there on your motorbike, you will generally want to do so in nice weather. You should also be aware, though, that August typically sees more accidents involving motorbikes than any other month of the year.
Why that is can certainly be speculated upon. It's really not that difficult to figure out, though. The weather is often nice in August, and individuals all over the country might try to take advantage of that by having a pleasant ride on their motorbikes.
It doesn't mean that you shouldn't join them. It simply means that there are more motorbikes on the road than usual, so you need to exercise caution.
January is the Opposite
On the other hand, the fewest accidents that involve motorbikes usually happen in January. While the cold weather doesn't factor in if you live somewhere like the West Coast, in much of the country, you will see ice and snow in January.
That means it's probably best for you to keep your motorbike in the garage until the spring. When the weather warms up, you can get back out there and enjoy the flowers and the birds returning.
The Total Number of Motorbike Deaths in 2021
If you go back to 2021, the total number of motorbike deaths in the US was 5,932. This might not sound like a lot. If you look at the total number of deaths involving motorbikes compared to those involving cars, though, it's immediately evident just how dangerous these vehicles are.
This number tends to fluctuate a bit, but not all that much. It seems to indicate that there are generally daredevils who love to get out there on their motorbikes, regardless of how perilous the activity is proven to be year after year.
Traffic Deaths vs. Registered Drivers
There's a related stat that's noteworthy, and it's the last one we'll cover. Motorbikes account for just 3% of all registered vehicles in the US. Accidents involving them that cause a death make up 14% of the total in America on a yearly basis, though.
Some of these stats might have given you pause, and that's as it should be. Motorbikes can be a thrill to operate, and if you're determined to ride one, you should have the freedom to do that.
If you think about this deluge of numbers, though, you'll see there's ample reason to wear a helmet, obey the speed limit, and take all other sensible precautions.
Stay safe on the road! Share your motorcycle safety tips in the comments below. Have you taken a motorcycle safety course? What safety gear do you recommend? Let's help keep riders safe together.
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