Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Motorcyle riding has become very popular in recent years, even attracting older and more affluent riders. So it goes without saying that as motorcycles become more popular and sales rise, so has the number of accidents and fatalities.

2006

• Per registered vehicle, the fatality rate for motorcyclists in 2006 was 5.5 times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants.
• The injury rate for motorcyclists was 1.2 times the injury rate for passenger car occupants.
• In 2006, motorcyclists accounted for 11 percent of total traffic fatalities.
• In 2006, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed - an increase of 5 percent from 2005.
• In 2006, 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in accidents.
• In 2006, 37 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents were speeding, compared with 23 percent for passenger car drivers.
• Of all fatally injured motorcycle operators, 27 percent had blood alcohol concentrations of .08 g/dL or higher.
• Motorcyclists killed at night were three times more likely to have blood alcohol concentrations of .08 g/dL or higher than those killed during the day.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that for every 100 motorcyclists killed while not wearing a helmet, 37 of their lives would have been saved if they were wearing a helmet.
• Helmet use has declined by 20 percent over five years, from 2001 to 2006.
• In Pennsylvania, there were 188 motorcycle-related fatalities in 2006.
• Motorcycles are more likely to be involved in a fatal accident with a fixed object than other vehicle

2005

• In 2005, 4,553 people died in motorcycle crashes, an increase of 13 percent from 4,028 in 2004.
• Motorcycle fatalities have increased for eight consecutive years.
• Motorcyclists were 34 more times likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash in 2005, and 8 times more likely to be injured.
• From 1997 to 2005, motorcycle fatalities are estimated to have risen 115 percent. In 2005, 87,000 riders were injured in accidents, up 14.5 percent from 76,000 in 2004.
• Motorcyclists accounted for 10.5 percent of total traffic fatalities, 13.8 percent of occupant fatalities and 3.5 percent of all occupants injured.
• 47 percent of riders killed were 40 years of age and older.
• Fatalities of riders 30 years of age and under dropped to 32 percent in 2005 compared to 50 percent in 1995.
• Fatalities among riders 30 to 35 years of age also dropped 21 percent from 26 percent in 1995.
• 27 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher.
• 41 percent of the 1,878 fatally injured motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2005 had a BAC of .08 or higher.
• On weekend nights, 61 percent of riders who died in single-vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher.
• 34 percent of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding compared to 26 percent of passenger car drivers.
• 24 percent of riders involved in a fatal accident were riding without a valid license.
• 1,546 lives were saved by helmets in 2005. If all states required helmets, and aditional 728 more lives would have been saved.
• Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing a fatal injury.