News
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Report Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
report shows that there is a greater involvement of riders in
the 40 and above age group and larger (1,001-1,500 cc) engine
motorcycles in fatal crashes. This has been criticized by
some who say that it only states the obvious; more riders over
40 are involved in fatal crashes because the rates of motorcycle
ownership for riders over 40 have increased since the last time
the report was issued. But not many people have actually
seen the chart that is the cause of the controversy:
As the chart above shows, motorcycle ownership for riders between the ages of 40 and 49 increased by nearly 28% from 1990 to 2003 (the latest year for which statistics are available). Motorcycle ownership also increased by about 25% in the 50 and over age group during the same period. The median age (50% over and 50% under) rose from 32 to 41 years old during the same period, and the average jumped from 33.1 years old to 40.2. Overall, between 1995-2004, the number of registered motorcycles rose by 1,883,679, an increase of 48%.
So the criticism has some validity, because it makes sense that, as older riders come to represent a larger proportion of overall riders, a greater percentage of accidents will occur among older riders.
Thus, many motorcycle writers have discounted the NHTSA data as a "sky is falling" mentality. It has been said that analysts who should know better are claiming all sorts of reasoning for why the motorcycle accident rate for over-40 riders is increasing.
But here's another chart from the NHTSA report that gives a better picture of the story. It is the "normalized" data, showing the number of registered motorcycles, the miles traveled per year and the corresponding fatality rates. In essence, it takes the age data out of the equation (although each age group still contributes to the rates):
The key figure here is the "Fatality Rate per 100 Million" (miles traveled), which has nearly doubled from 22.73 to 39.89 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled during the period of 1997 to 2004. This is the chart that should be the focus of concern, because the numbers are sobering.
Compiling the rates as a "per 100 million miles traveled" normalizes the data (somewhat) by removing the age effect and the increase in numbers of registered motorcycles to make the comparisons relatively equal across the years. When you consider that motorcycle technology, tires (radial tires were rare in 1995, for example), brakes, helmets, clothing and even rider knowledge improve each year, it's obvious that motorcyclists have a serious problem.
The bottom line? Forget about the age issue, it's a non sequitur. The real issue is immutable: regardless of age categories, the motorcycle fatality rate has increased dramatically since 1997 and shows no signs of moderating in the future. What are we as motorcyclists going to do about it?
Summary Findings of the NHTSA Report
NHTSA reported it correctly, if only the scribes would interpret the
results. The report states that "Motorcycle rider fatalities decreased
each year from 1995 to 1997, reaching a historic low of 2,116 in 1997.
Beginning in 1998 this trend was reversed and motorcycle rider fatalities
have increased each year.
Since 1997 motorcycle rider fatalities have increased by 89 percent from 2,116 to 4,008 in 2004. NHTSA previously released a comprehensive report in 2001 based on increases in motorcycle rider fatalities for two consecutive years (1998 and 1999). The latest 2004 data show that motorcycle rider fatalities increased for the seventh year in a row since 1997. This report is an update to the previously released report in 2001 along with more recent data from 1995 to 2004.
If the patterns seen in the analyses continue as seen from the combination
of data sources, there is the likelihood that the increase in motorcycle
rider fatalities will continue in the future years
also."
These findings could aid in the design of crash prevention programs:
-
Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) data show an increase in the number of on highway
motorcycles and motorcycle registration data from the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) also show an increase in the number of registered
motorcycles. -
MIC data show an increase in motorcycle ownership in the 40 and above age group
and FARS data show an increase in motorcycle rider fatalities in the age group of
40 and above in the last 10 years. -
According to MIC, sales of motorcycles with larger engine sizes have increased
over the past years, corresponding to FARS data where an increased number of
motorcycle rider fatalities involve a motorcycle with a larger engine size. -
An increased number of motorcycle rider fatalities in the 40 and above age group
were seen on rural roadways. -
Among roadway types, undivided roadways accounted for a majority of
motorcycle rider fatalities. -
Speeding is one of the major contributing factors in motorcycle crashes especially
among motorcycle riders under the age of 30. -
Motorcycle operators with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 g/dL or
higher continue to be a major problem. -
Helmet use among fatally injured motorcycle riders has remained constant, at just
above 50 percent in the last ten years. -
About two-thirds (66%) of the fatally injured motorcycles riders in States without
universal helmet laws in 2004 were not wearing helmets compared to 15 percent in
States with universal helmet laws. -
Among all riders, motorcycle operator fatalities under the age of 20 had larger
percentages of improperly licensed.
UPDATE: The National Transportation Safety Board recently held a public event in Washington, D.C. entitled "Public Forum on Motorcycle Safety" (September 12-13, 2006). The agenda and many interesting presentations are available for download on this page. Some of the presentations were webcasts and are archived and available for viewing on this page.
UPDATE #2: November 30, 2006 - The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that it has committed $100,000 to help fund a comprehensive nationwide study of motorcycle crashes, and encourages individual motorcyclists, organizations, and businesses in the motorcycle industry to contribute to the effort through the AMA's new "Fuel the Fund" campaign.
In 2005, Congress approved federal funding to study the causes of motorcycle crashes, the first such research in the U.S. in more than 25 years. The $2.8 million pledged by the government calls for another $2.8 million in matching funds from the American motorcycling community before the entire federal grant will be released.
The AMA, in addition to spearheading the effort to secure federal funding and committing the first matching funds, has launched "Fuel the Fund," a national campaign allowing individuals and businesses to contribute matching funds necessary to take full advantage of the federal funding.
"After declining for more than a decade, motorcycling fatalities have increased in recent years, prompting much speculation about the reasons why," said Edward Moreland, AMA Vice President for Government Relations. "Last year, Congress agreed that we need answers, not theories."
"Now, we're confident that American motorcyclists, rider groups, motorcycle dealers and industry leaders will come together to raise the matching funds required to get the crash study underway," said Moreland. "This is about saving lives, and we need the help of everyone in the motorcycling community to 'Fuel the Fund.'"
Contributions to "Fuel the Fund" can be made online.
UPDATE #3: Motorcycle
Industry for Funding New Motorcycle Crash Study
July 3, 2007 - The American Motorcyclist Association
today praised the motorcycle industry for committing
$2.8 million to make a new study into the causes of
motorcycle crashes a reality.
The motorcycle industry announced that it will provide the money through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The funding will go to the Oklahoma Transportation Center, which is an independent and respected research center at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
That industry money will be used as matching funding for a federal grant previously approved by Congress. The terms of the federal grant required the motorcycling community to come up with 50 percent of the funding for the study. The AMA has also committed funding to the project, and the association has been collecting additional money from riders through its Fuel the Fund program.
Since 1973, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has set internationally recognized standards that promote the safety of motorcyclists with rider-education courses, operator licensing tests, and public-information programs. The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, BRP, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha.
"This commitment by the motorcycle industry is a vital ingredient in getting the first comprehensive study of the causes of motorcycle crashes in more than 25 years," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "We recognize and appreciate the investment the motorcycle industry is making in its customers. Without this financial support on their part, we could not have taken advantage of the federal funding we worked so hard to secure."
The last major study into the causes of motorcycle crashes was the so-called Hurt Study, completed in 1980. That study provided a wealth of data that has been used by organizations and individual motorcyclists to help keep riders safer on the road. But the traffic environment has changed enormously in the decades since, prompting the AMA to begin campaigning for a new study several years ago. That process continues with the Fuel the Fund program, designed to finalize the budget for the study, which is expected to begin this fall.
"With funding from the federal government and the industry in place, the motorcycling community is nearing completion of the long process leading to a new study of motorcycle crashes," Moreland said. "This is a tremendous example of the entire motorcycling community-businesses, organizations and individual riders-working together to secure this vital research designed to help prevent crashes and save lives on the highway."