What Percentage of Motorcycle Accidents Are Self-Taught Riders?
In most motorcycle accidents, the cause is the rider’s error. While roadway defects are a factor in less than 2% of motorcycle accidents, motorcycle riders under the influence pose a serious collision avoidance problem. Also, helmet-wearing riders sustain fewer neck injuries than unhelmeted riders.
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Motorcycle rider error is the accident-precipitating factor
One of the most significant factors in motorcycle accidents is rider error. In nearly 70% of collisions, the motorcycle rider’s error is the primary cause of the accident. Rider error causes many accidents because of issues with visual recognition. Because motorcycles are much smaller than cars, they are often not seen by other drivers until it is too late.
Motorcycle accidents are typically single-vehicle collisions, but they can also involve another vehicle. Approximately a quarter of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle, a fixed object, or a deer crossing the road. Two-thirds of motorcycle accidents are the result of rider error, with common causes including speeding, distracted driving, and not being familiar with the road. In some cases, a manufacturer’s defect may also be the cause.
Roadway defects cause only about 2% of all motorcycle accidents
Motorcycle accidents are largely caused by rider error, as motorcycles are not built with safety restraints and crumple zones to protect riders from crashes. Most accidents involve a single vehicle, and more than half of accident victims had less than 5 months of experience. In addition, nearly two-thirds of motorcycle accidents are the result of another vehicle violating a motorcycle’s right of way. Other causes of motorcycle accidents include failure by motorists to recognize and detect motorcycles, speeding, or riding without a driver’s license.
Motorcycle accidents are often fatal, but only a small percentage are caused by vehicle defects. Motorcycle crashes are almost twice as likely to involve a car or truck than one motorcycle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only 2% of motorcycle crashes are caused by road defects. Another twenty-seven percent are the result of other vehicles, which means that a motorcycle rider is seven times more likely to die in a motorcycle crash than a car.
Motorcyclists under the influence cause serious collision avoidance problems
Motorcycle collisions are caused by several factors, including speeding and aggressive driving. In addition to speeding, riders who are under the influence can fail to yield the right of way to other vehicles. These drivers may not even be aware of the motorcycle until it is too late to avoid the collision. Alternatively, they may intentionally violate traffic laws, such as turning in front of a motorcyclist. Most serious motorcycle accidents result from head-on collisions. Drunk drivers are especially dangerous, causing many serious injuries and fatalities.
Studies have shown that motorcyclists under the influence are significantly less likely to avoid collisions. A recent study found that nearly half of fatal motorcycle accidents involved alcohol or drugs. According to this research, a motorcycle rider under the influence of alcohol showed significantly worse collision avoidance skills, including an inability to swerve or countersteer effectively. In addition, less than 10 percent of motorcyclists in fatal collisions had insurance. Failure to have insurance can result in financial hardship for victims of a motorcycle accident.
Helmeted riders have lower neck injuries than unhelmeted riders
The findings of a recent study suggest that motorcycle riders wearing helmets are less likely to sustain neck injuries. The researchers examined cervical spine injuries in a level-one trauma center and found that wearing a helmet was associated with a lower risk of developing a fractured vertebra. Moreover, helmeted riders were found to have fewer injuries overall. On average, helmeted riders were 20% less likely to suffer a cervical spine fracture than unhelmeted riders. These findings also showed that those who wore a helmet suffered significantly fewer complications in the hospital, especially during intensive care unit stays.
The study also showed that riders wearing a motorcycle helmet were less likely to sustain a head injury. There was a lower risk of TBI in a helmet-wearing rider than in a non-helmeted rider, regardless of the severity of the accident. The study also found that motorcycle rider who wore helmets were less likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury than unhelmeted riders. These findings are also reflected in statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).