This is an encouraging trend, but it is likely just that. It is a promising direction. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that motorcycle fatalities have dropped for the second year in a row, reports the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF). According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, or FARS data, collected by the federal government, motorcycle fatalities for 2013 dropped from 4,986 to 4,668 a difference of 318. The motorcycle fatality drop was the largest percentage of all vehicle groups at 6.4 percent. This is the second year on year drop in motorcycle fatalities since 2009. Another aspect motorcyclists can be proud of is the decrease in the number of alcohol related deaths. Fatal crashes where alcohol was a factor dropped by 117 deaths, or 8.3%, also the largest decrease in the category.
Also reported was the drop in the number of injured motorcyclists from 93,000 to 88,000, a 5.4 percent drop. Eighty-eight thousand still seems like an awfully large number but consider that the number of passenger vehicle injuries is 2,046,000 for 2013. The drop in injured motorcyclists is again the largest decrease in the category.
One unfortunate aspect of the report is that motorcyclist fatalities now take up 14 percent of the total fatalities. This is likely a direct result of more motorcycle licenses being issued and more motorcycle registrations being reported. Highway motorcycles saw a 2% increase in sales in 2013, and manufacturers are reporting record setting sales for 2013, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. As with any increase in a vehicle population, it is predictable that fatalities would also rise.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation believes that through strong rider education programs and prolific motorcycle awareness campaigns this drop in motorcycle fatalities can continue. Feel free to contact the MRF for any information on motorcycle fatality avoidance campaigns.
Any stats with respect to wearing a helmet?
Rather, I would be interested in the stats, showing the number of accidents where cars/trucks hit a motorcyclist.
Such figures are always difficult to get. Many studies have shown: cars/trucks are the leading cause of motorcycle accidents.
Dressing up in “biker” fashion quit being cool some time ago. Bright clothing, bright helmet, and those cars and trucks are more likely to see us. Don’t drink and ride…;live to ride another day. It’s just playing the odds.
The drop in biker deaths doesn’t tell much. The proper metric is deaths per million miles ridden which the report details for total vehicle miles, but does not break out for bikes.
I would suspect that with an improving economy, a good number of people with a bike as their only means of transportation were able to buy a car, and thus total motorcycle miles for the last few years may well have fallen. This would indicate that there is little or no change in the number of biker deaths per million miles.
Of course, fewer deaths are great, but it doesn’t mean that we or auto drivers are doing any better at safety.
RE:
“… The proper metric is deaths per million miles ridden . ..”
Spot on Toby…!!
Could be the demographics, the fad, and the economy have all been colluding to bring down the number of miles being ridden…???
The number of used scooters coming into the market might be a clue…
-nicker-