Editor, NWQT
Quick Throttle Magazine
Introduction: I was at the Harley-Davidson dealership for my 20,000 mile service and picked up the March edition of Quick Throttle magazine. There was an interesting article by Mike Dalgaard regarding single rider accidents and causes. As motorcycle riders, we tend to believe the primary collision factor has been a vehicle making a left turn in front of us. Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tell a different story – Paul McInerny.
There is a growing and disturbing trend - single vehicle (motorcycle) accidents and fatalities. It is a fact that over the past 4-5 years that single vehicle accidents, injuries and fatalities first caught up with, then surpassed multiple vehicle (motorcycle/vehicle) accidents.
New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that motorcycle fatalities have been rising steadily over the past four years in regards to their percentage of total deaths to where they now account for 14% of all traffic deaths, up from just 8% when the study began. This despite the good news that OVERALL traffic deaths are down for everyone including riders for both 2013 and 2014. The numbers would be even higher if adjusted for miles driven and ridden. That number is obscenely astonishing to me. Drivers are getting safer, riders are not based on this comparative data. Now couple this with a fascinating new study by the Progressive Insurance Company, the Nations largest motorcycle insurer.
First and foremost is the fact that SINGLE vehicle motorcycle only accidents are three and a half times HIGHER than the next closest accident type which is being rear-ended while on your bike. Note that it is not the ubiquitous left turn in front of an on coming motorcycle. Nope, it’s more likely that you’ll be popped in the back by an inattentive driver as you slow in traffic or stop for a light or stop sign. This one even surprised me. I had no idea that rear end collisions were as common as they are. Another tidbit - Saturdays in July are the biggest accident days followed by Sundays and Fridays. June is better than August and December is the safest month of the year.
Here’s another little gem from the survey: Looking at just the claims numbers and types, single rider claims are higher than rear end claims, intersection claims, stolen bike claims and parked bike claims COMBINED! Seriously, that is a staggering statistic and if that doesn’t get your attention nothing will. What is happening here is the “Big 3” of speed, impairment and inattention are coming home to roost. These three or a combination of these three are the root causes of 99% of all single bike accidents. Not drivers texting or talking although we all know that’s gotten worse, not mechanical issues that are so minuscule they are not even listed and not weather although that can play a part when dealing with the big three causes.
The inescapable conclusion is that we have met the enemy and its US! We are indeed our own worst enemy and we are injuring ourselves and killing ourselves at a higher average than ever before. Ponder these facts the next time you swing a leg over your seat. For those of you who think a rest stop should include a few beers or that speed limit signs are only suggestions, or fiddling with your radio or Bluetooth makes sense at 60 MPH, think again.
Meanwhile my take away from this survey along with new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is that by using inverse logic we can see that for those of us who ride safely, sanely and attentively the roads are safer than ever, as long as we ride responsibly.
Mike Dalgaard
Editor, NW QT
