Motorcycles have always been relatively dangerous forms of transportation. All it takes is a single mistake or a momentary loss of balance for someone to end up seriously hurt in a collision. Riders have to be diligent about how they act on the road. Vehicle maintenance is also crucial to the safety of riders.
Improved training requirements for motorcycle operators and more safety rules for others on the road could theoretically reduce the number of motorcycle riders who end up hurt in traffic. Unfortunately, according to a recent review of motorcycle collision statistics, the exact opposite has happened. More riders in recent years have suffered injuries and died than was typical just a decade ago. Riders need to understand that crash risk is on the rise if they hope to keep themselves safe.
Crash rates have gone up over the last decade
Statistics paint a grim picture of motorcycle safety. According to the National Safety Council, only 3% of the vehicles registered in the United States are motorcycles. However,14.6% of all traffic deaths involved motorcycle riders as of 2022. The total number of deaths among motorcyclists increased by 1% from 2021 to 2022, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Over a decade, motorcycle fatalities increased by 13%, leading to 6,218 reported deaths in 2022.
There could be many factors to blame for the increase in crashes. Larger vehicles becoming more popular is one issue that could worsen the outcome of motorcycle crashes. An increase in unsafe behavior, like distracted driving, could also be partially to blame.
What does this mean for riders?
Obviously, someone shouldn’t have to give up their motorcycle just because other people aren’t safe in traffic. However, they need to be aware of their risk levels and take appropriate steps to protect themselves. Defensive riding techniques can go a long way toward mitigating the possibility of a collision.
Riders also need to have a plan in case they do experience a crash. Knowing one’s rights makes it easier to seek compensation from the party at fault for a motorcycle crash. Riders may need to file insurance claims or possibly consider personal injury lawsuits to hold a driver accountable for injuring them.