Motorcycle Accident statistics

[lowfatbaconboy]

So ive been thinking about getting a starter bike and learning how to ride (and yes ive looked all over ATOT about bikes...and yes im gona take the MSF course first...and yes im going to get a lower cc bike)

when i started asking my friend's for opinions about half or more started saying 'oh you'll be horribly maimed or killed but have fun'

and it got me thinking...how many people have really looked at the statistics on this stuff

from googling:

Text

* Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent
* More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural roads
* High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators
* Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash
* Over 80 percent of the fatalities occur off roadway
* Undivided roadways account for a majority of the fatalities
* Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash
* Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night
* Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities
* Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities
* More riders age 40 and over are getting killed
* Almost one third of the fatally injured operators did not have a proper license

and

Text

* Motorcycle accidents are more likely to occur at night-with an increased number of fatal crashes occurring after dark as well (motorcycle accident statistics show that 60% of all fatalities happened at night)
* Nearly half of all motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes were speeding
* Around 80% of all motorcycle accidents end in injury or death
* Motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had higher intoxication rats than drivers of any other type of vehicle involved in a fatal accident

so if you drive a car you're chances of dying in an accident not involving alcohol are around .01%....and if you are riding a motorcycle its about .1% (not the best statistical methods were used in calculating this b/c every year there are about 20,000 deaths in car accidents not involving alcohol...and you are 16 times as likely to die in a bike accident....so 20,000/280mill * 16)

it'd be nice if i could find some data on how many bike riders there are in the US and then compare that to # of accidents / deaths

does anyone else have any statistics or anything they'd like to share?
so after all I don't think thats a really large deterent for me....so i think im still gona go take the MSF course when im done with this semster

 

[LtPage1]

if youre smart, youll probably be fine. but remember- it doesnt take 2 to create an accident. and event that dinky civic is going to royally screw you up when it hits you.

 

[dug777]

i've never looked at them

 

[Evadman]

When you ride a motorcycle, you have to watch out for others. It only takes a split second for someone to pull out in front of you. They may be at faoult, but you are still dead.

 

[crumpet19]

I'm not worried about dying so much as i am living -paralyzed.

 

[bigredguy]

there are two types of motorcyclists, those who have crashed and those who will.

 

[bigredguy]

Originally posted by: crumpet19
I'm not worried about dying so much as i am living -paralyzed.

don't wanna be like terry?

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: bigredguy
there are two types of motorcyclists, those who have crashed and those who will.

excellent post.
my dad raed dirt track in the 70s and ridden road bikes long before that and today. he has been in numerable crashes

 

[redly]

hell, even when I was a kid riding mopeds and atv's, an accident was like a weekly occurance. granted, it never involved another car (unless you conside the time my fricken cousin pulled in front of me with a go-kart). I suffered some bad scrapes, and came close to some head injuries. I guess it was enough to keep my parents from ever letting me get a motorcycle while I lived under thier roof and enough for my wife to also ban it.

someday

 

[Viper GTS]

My brother is intent on getting a motorcycle.

He just turned 18, doesn't have much by way of income, & sees the high gas mileage + dirt cheap insurance as being worth the risk(s).

I think he'll avoid the majority of the things on that list, but I'm still worried for him.



Viper GTS

 

[halik]

assuming you're not an organ donor / squid,
here are the main things to look out for:

1) people waiting to make a left turn on an intersection when you have right of way... thats the most common way riders get creamed

2) when you stop at a red light or a stop sign and you're the first in line ... make sure you have your bike on first and keep your eyes on the rearview mirror

3) running cars parked along the road - make sure you know what to do if they decide to pull out

4) gravel/shit on the road, especially curves

5) old asian ladies (im serious... i had too many close calls and my friend got nailed by one making a u turn :roll: )

Always look for people's eyes to make sure they see you - you can control yourself, but you always ALWAYS have to watch out for the other peopel out there

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
My brother is intent on getting a motorcycle.

He just turned 18, doesn't have much by way of income, & sees the high gas mileage + dirt cheap insurance as being worth the risk(s).

I think he'll avoid the majority of the things on that list, but I'm still worried for him.



Viper GTS

Commuting on a bike is playing russian roulette on a daily basis... with big enough sample size, the odds of your survival will converge to the stats the o/p posted...

 

[Riddleman]

Dude, why take the risk. Be safe and lock urself in your room and only comeout when u need to.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
Dude, why take the risk. Be safe and lock urself in your room and only comeout when u need to.

It's about unnecessary risk.

I don't want to go highway speed without a steel cage & airbag. My body wasn't designed to survive sh!t at that speed without some assistance.

Viper GTS

 

[ohnnyj]

Sounds like many of the stats can be avoided if you are a smart and aware driver/rider. So be careful out there!

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: halik
assuming you're not an organ donor

I always heard that "motorcycle rider" is synonymous with "organ donor"

 

[lowfatbaconboy]

oh ya im 21 and i have a car so its not going to be a daily commute sorta thing
(plus i live within walking distance of my university)

and i do autoXing for fun
now that doesn't mean that im gona go freakin crazy if i got a bike...it means im goining to take it slowly and learn how the bike handles etc.

 

[redly]

I think Halik nailed the "how to ride a motorcycle safe" tits on

 

[amdskip]

I would like to get one but my mom basically said you can when you move out and that won't be happening for a while. It would be great to have one here on campus.

 

[andylawcc]

dude, those stats are worthless

* Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent

that's like saying a bullet-proof vest and save your life

* High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators

and high blood alcohol levels are also a major problem in what other kind of autmotive operators? like, all of them.

* Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash

yeah, if all roads are straight no one will die

* Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash

:read the "blood alcohol" reply

* Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night

read above

* Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities

trees are fixed, guard rails are fixed, gravel roads are fixed, fire hydrants are fixed, lamp posts are fixed... so other than cars, what can you hit are that not fixed?

* Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities

what's the point of this?

 

[EmperorIQ]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
dude, those stats are worthless

* Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent

that's like saying a bullet-proof vest and save your life

* High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators

and high blood alcohol levels are also a major problem in what other kind of autmotive operators? like, all of them.

* Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash

yeah, if all roads are straight no one will die

* Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash

:read the "blood alcohol" reply

* Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night

read above

* Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities

trees are fixed, guard rails are fixed, gravel roads are fixed, fire hydrants are fixed, lamp posts are fixed... so other than cars, what can you hit are that not fixed?

* Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities

what's the point of this?

point being, 25% fo fatalities are because people were skilled enough, couldn't handle their bikes.

 

[Calin]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
if youre smart, youll probably be fine. but remember- it doesnt take 2 to create an accident. and event that dinky civic is going to royally screw you up when it hits you.

Also, take into consideration that the probability of an accident is bigger at the end of the journey when you decide you went fast enough, and now you will go slow (you tend to consider yourself safe, and your attention starts to wander)

 

[loic2003]

Motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had higher intoxication rats than drivers of any other type of vehicle involved in a fatal accident

If you're letting a drunk rat drive/ride you're asking for it really...

 

[Kaido]

I wanted a bike for soooo long. My friends who had them told me not to, however...they all had at least four or five near-death stories relating to motorcycles. Then one day I met this guy in my church and I was talking to him about bikes. He said he used to ride, but stopped when he was 18 or so. I asked him why and he pulled up both of his sleeves and showed me his biceps. On one arm was normal, pretty muscly, but the other was just straight arm, no muscle. He said he had gotten into a motorcycle accident when he was young and it ripped that muscle off. His arm still worked fine, there was just no muscle on top of it. Made me so sick that I decided I would never ride or buy a bike

 

[StageLeft]

If you read those stats and understand them you'll realize that they in no way undermine most people's assertions that motorcycles are dangerous. They are, and your chances of death on one are high.

If you want to look for some obfuscated facts to rationalize owning a bike that is your prerogative, but they are dangerous, as stats show. Just ask your insurance company.