Motorcycle Vs. Car - Myth or Madness
Motorcycle Vs. Car: Myth or Madness?
It's no secret that there are many myths surrounding motorcycles and motorcyclists, including the idea that riding a motorcycle is invariably more dangerous than driving a car. In fact, the risks are slightly reversed; the average person has about twice the chance of dying when riding in a car as opposed to when they ride on a motorcycle. Motorcycles also have very few safety features, unlike cars which have airbags and crumple zones. Furthermore, a recent review of motorcycle accident data found that car drivers had a higher rate of neglecting to wear seat belts and using mobile phones while behind the wheel.
The data also shows that motorcyclists are less likely to be intoxicated than car drivers, and are much more likely to wear helmets which results in a lower rate of head injuries. Motorcyclists also have a lower rate of personal injury claims for being injured in an accident.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics?
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation there were roughly 477 fatalities for every 100 million miles driven on motor vehicles during the period between 1997 and 2006. In another recent study, the Institute for Highway Safety found that the odds of dying in a motorcycle accident are 1 out of 68,000 for a motorcyclist compared to 1 out of 35,000 for a passenger car.
Motorcycle Vs. Car – The Little Things
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Despite the fact that motorcycles are involved in fewer accidents than cars, and should therefore be less hazardous, there is still significant concern about their perceived risks. The reasons why people have such strong associations with motorcycles and negative feelings towards them is beyond question driven by many years of what could be called "old media bias". It is no surprise that the majority of these stories have appeared in the "newspaper of record" and many of them have been repeated by news outlets across the world. The "old media" clearly has an interest in maintaining myths about motorcycle riding.
The assumption that motorcyclists are more likely to be killed or injured because they are more careless than car drivers is both false and illogical, and it can be disproved with a simple experiment. Take two groups of people: one group chooses to ride motorcycles, while the other group drives cars. Each day for a month, both groups take their vehicles out on average for 20 miles each day. The motorcyclists wear helmets and non-motorcycle riding gear, and they drive with the same skills as their car-driving counterparts.
What do you think is more likely to happen? Do you think the motorcyclists are likely to be killed or injured? Or do you think that car drivers will experience more deaths and injuries than motorcyclists? The truth of the matter is that many more car drivers would be killed or injured in accidents than motorcyclists. Motorcycles simply do not go as fast, which means that highway accidents don't happen as often on them. Car accidents often also happen when cars are parked in parking lots, when they are backing out of parking garages, etc. In comparison, motorcyclists have less opportunity to injure or kill others because they simply do not travel as fast.
Another interesting fact is that 85% of all motorcycle accidents are single vehicle accidents. In a single vehicle accident, the rider usually fell due to some sort of error on his or her part such as improper shifting, braking, turning, etc.. The thing that makes this statistic especially frightening is the fact that most motorcycle incidents occur within 7 miles of home. In reality, a majority of motorcycle accidents are preventable – and they're simply the result of mistakes made by riders.
Motorcycle Vs. Car: Accident Statistics
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In 2008, there were 1.27 fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled on motorcycles; a total of 826 motorcyclists died. More than half of these fatalities (540 or 56%) were single-vehicle accidents in which the rider was either killed or severely injured. Another 232 motorcyclists (23%) were killed in multiple-vehicle collisions. Another 18% (191) deaths occurred because a motorcycle struck an animal and two died when they collided with fixed objects such as trees. The final 16% (167) died in unknown circumstances.
In all, 477 motorcyclists died during 2008, the last year for which data is available. Another 2,407 reported serious injuries. Motorcycle fatalities increased by 28% from 2006 when there were 963 fatalities and 1,717 injuries reported to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). In fact, motorcyclist deaths rose 20% between 2005 and 2006 while the nation's passenger vehicle occupant death rate fell 11%.
Motorcycle Vs. Car: Statistics?
In 2008 motorcycle riders accounted for 13% of all traffic-related fatalities with 613 deaths compared to 33,093 lives lost on public roads. The year before there were 637 deaths.
Motorcycle Vs. Car: Additional Statistics?
The insurance industry has taken note of the lower fatality rates and the low injury rate among motorcycle owners. They come to this conclusion despite the fact that motorcycles have higher fatality rates than cars on a per mile basis. The Insurance Information Institute (III) states: "Motorcycle riders are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than are automobile drivers or passengers even though motorcycles account for a very small share of the miles driven in this country." The reason is that, thanks to better training, licensing and safety equipment, motorcycle riders are not as likely to die or get seriously injured in an accident.
Motorcycles Vs. Cars – The Statistics
The following are some statistics about motorcycle accidents and deaths compared to car accidents and deaths in the United States:
Accidents – In 2007 (latest year for which statistics are available), there were 5,272 motorcycle rider fatalities; this represents a 4% increase in deaths when compared to 2006. During that same time, passenger vehicles experienced a 3% decline in fatal accidents. Motorcycle registrations have increased from 2 million motorcycles in 2000 to 2.4 million motorcycles in 2007. There were 37,461 motorcycles involved in reported traffic crashes on U.S roads in 2007 (latest year for which statistics are available). There was 1 percent of these crashes that involved a fatality. Compared to passenger vehicles, motorcycles are involved in a much higher percentage of fatal accidents.
Deaths – There were 613 motorcycle riders killed in 2007 when compared with 33,093 lives lost on public roads (that is an 81% increase). Another 2,267 motorcycles riders suffered serious injuries, and another 959 sustained minor injuries. During 2007 there were 16% fewer fatalities than 2006. The number of motorcycle fatalities has risen dramatically since 1998 when there were 547 fatal accidents (78% less). For the 2006 statistics see Motorcycle Vs.
Conclusion: Motorcycle Accidents?
The statistics for motorcycle-involved accidents and fatalities provide a sobering reminder of the dangers riders face every time they get on their bikes to ride across the country, or even just around town. The sad fact is that many accidents are preventable, but you can do your part by learning everything you can about riding safely and obeying all traffic laws. If you do have an accident, always remember that no matter what, you should go to the hospital and request any necessary tests so that it is documented in case you are later faced with false claims about your injury.