How Many People Die in Motorcycle Accidents Per Year?
The number of deaths from motorcycle accidents in the United States has increased substantially in recent years. Approximately 94,172 people die each year, representing an 80% risk of death or injury. You can learn more about the causes of motorcycle accidents and the factors that contribute to fatal crashes. You can also discover the most common time of day when motorcycle accidents occur.
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94,172 fatalities
Whether it is on the highways or the back roads, motorcycle drivers face a higher risk of being involved in a motorcycle accident than drivers of other vehicles. Unlike other vehicles, motorcycles have lower visibility and less traction than automobiles. Also, weather conditions like snow or fog make it harder for motorcycle drivers to stay on the road and are a major cause of motorcycle accident deaths. Motorcycle safety can be improved by practicing defensive driving, using a helmet, and buying motorcycle insurance.
In 2017, there were 94,172 fatal motorcycle crashes nationwide. In Michigan, there were 2,809 motorcyclist crashes, with 120 deaths and 2,047 injuries. The majority of these crashes involved a motorcycle and another vehicle.
80% chance of injury or death
Various factors can increase your chances of surviving a motorcycle accident, and one of them is motorcycle visibility. If you can see what’s ahead of you, then you’ll have a better chance of avoiding an accident, while poor visibility can lead to more severe consequences. Not following the regulations and laws for motorcycle driving can also increase your risk of injury or death.
One of the most common factors that cause motorcycle accidents is loss of control during a bend in the road. Motorcycle accidents often result in injuries to both the driver and passengers, with the likelihood of death increasing by twenty percent. More than half of these crashes are head-on collisions, which typically involve several vehicles. In these crashes, the vehicles that hit the motorcycle often failed to see the motorcycle and failed to slow down.
Factors that contribute to motorcycle accidents
Many factors can cause a motorcycle accident. One of the biggest is alcohol. Alcohol is not a good combination for operating any type of vehicle, and it contributes to a large number of motorcycle accidents. 27 percent of all motorcycle accident fatalities involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.
Another factor is speed. In a 1996 study, nearly half of motorcycle fatalities involved a collision with a vehicle. This means that motorcyclists need to be extra alert at intersections. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the speed limit.
Most common time of day for fatal crashes
According to statistics collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are certain times of the day that have a higher risk of motorcycle accidents than others. A weekday, for example, has a higher risk of fatal motorcycle crashes than a weekend day. Weekend crashes are twice as common as weekdays. And on Saturday night, there are more motorcycle accidents than on any other day of the week.
Even though cold weather tends to cause fewer motorcycle crashes, hotter weather has the opposite effect. While January and February have the lowest fatality rates, April, September, and July are the three most deadly months. These months have double-digit mortality rates, and July has experienced a 14% increase in fatalities since 2017.
Safety features of motorcycles
Motorcycle accidents have become an increasingly common cause of death and injury across the United States. The number of motorcycle accidents has increased since the 1990s. According to U.S. Department of Transportation statistics, there were 5,579 motorcyclist fatalities in 2020, the highest number on record. Motorcycle fatalities comprised 14 percent of all motor vehicle deaths that year. That’s more than double the number of fatalities that occurred in 1997. In addition, nearly three-fourths of motorcycle accidents killed people who were not wearing a helmet. In states that haven’t yet implemented universal helmet laws, this number is likely to increase.
The most common cause of motorcycle crashes is failure to observe road conditions. During a bend, a motorcycle often loses control, and this can result in a catastrophic accident. A typical motorcycle accident results in a death or severe injury. According to statistics from the National Safety Council, almost one-fourth of fatal motorcycle accidents are the result of a car failing to see the motorcycle.