Riding a motorcycle carries countless advantages. The ease of maintenance, not to mention fuel efficiency, are popular selling points. Yet, with freedom and convenience comes significant risks. Cyclists do not have the luxury of a steel enclosure that car and truck drivers enjoy.
Factors that result in dangerous and deadly collisions
Certain weather conditions and other factors could lead to severe injuries. Thousands of motorcyclists suffer serious and fatal injuries. Current statistics also reveal motorcycle fatalities increasing by 11 percent in 2020, with the most deaths being riders 25 to 29. Riders 55 and older grew from three percent in 1975 to 27 percent in 2020.
While two-wheel transport enthusiasts account for three percent of the registered vehicles in the United States, motorcyclists are four times more likely to suffer injury and nearly 30 times more likely to die on the road. Most fatalities occur from June to September, adding 12 percent or more each subsequent month. Regardless of the month, weekends saw fatalities spiking, specifically during a 12-hour time span starting at 6:00 pm.
From 2016 to 2020, motorcycle collisions saw a decade-high number of deaths, from 5,337 to 5,579. While the number has decreased, fatalities are still above 5,000. Similarly, injuries have also decreased. Yet, those suffering physical trauma have never been below 81,000 in the last decade.
The quintet of Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania accounted for 37 percent of fatal accidents in 2020. Near the bottom are Vermont, Alaska, and the District of Columbia, with less than ten fatalities during the same year.
Operating a motorcycle requires proactive decisions while on the road. The best choice occurs before the ride starts when a cyclist puts on a helmet. However, more is needed to help when a negligent operator operates a larger car or truck.