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Motorcycle Crashes
THE TOPIC

DECEMBER 2008

Motorcycle riding has become more popular in recent years, appealing to a new group of enthusiasts consisting of older and more affluent riders. Sales of all types of two-wheelers reached about 1,158,000 in 2006 (latest data available), a level not seen in about 30 years. There were 6.7 million motorcycles on the road in 2006 according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. At the same time motorcycle fatalities have also been climbing, reaching 5,154 in 2007, the highest level since the Department of Transportation began collecting data in 1975. There has also been a dramatic jump in the number of deaths among motorcyclists age 40 and older in recent years.

Motorcycles are by their nature far less crashworthy than closed vehicles. They are also less visible to other drivers and pedestrians and less stable than four-wheel vehicles. Operating a motorcycle requires a different combination of physical and mental skills than those used in driving four-wheel vehicles. Motorcyclists and their passengers are more vulnerable to the hazards of weather and road conditions than drivers in closed vehicles.

Motorcycle insurance is widely available. As motorcycles became more popular, more insurers entered the market. Now, most of the top ten auto insurers offer motorcycle insurance, either as an endorsement to a personal automobile policy or as a separate policy, in most of the states in which they operate. Many have recently expanded into new states. For more information see Motorcycle Insurance in the Specialty Insurance section of the I.I.I. Web site.
KEY FACTS

  • According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2007, 5,154 people died in motorcycle crashes, up 6.6 percent from 4,837 in 2006 to the highest level since NHTSA began collecting data in 1975.

  • Motorcycle crash fatalities have increased every year for the past 10 years.

  • According to the latest data available from the Federal Highway Administration, there were 6.7 million motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2006, compared with 137.7 million passenger cars. Motorcycles accounted for nearly 3 percent of all registered motor vehicles and 0.4 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

  • Some 104,000 motorcycles were involved in crashes in 2006, including property damage-only crashes, according to latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

  • Motorcyclists were 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash in 2006, per vehicle mile traveled, and eight times more likely to be injured,according to NHTSA.

  • The fatality rate for motorcyclists in 2006 was 5.5 times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants per registered vehicle, according to the latest data from NHTSA.

FATALITIES AND INJURIES

Overall: According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov), the following new terms are now being used to define motorcycle occupants: a motorcycle rider is the operator only; a passenger is any person seated on the motorcycle but not in control of the motorcycle; and any combined reference to the motorcycle rider (operator) as well as the passenger will be referred to as motorcyclists.

NHTSA says that in 2007, 5,154 motorcyclists died in crashes, up 6.6 percent from 4,837 in 2006, marking the tenth consecutive year of higher motorcycle deaths. Motorcycle fatalities are at their highest level since NHTSA began collecting data in 1975. From 1997, a historic low, to 2007 motorcycle fatalities rose 144 percent. In 2007, 103,000 motorcyclists were injured in accidents, 15,000 more than in 2006 and up 94 percent from 53,000 in 1997.

In 2007 motorcyclists accounted for 13 percent of all traffic fatalities, 14 percent of all occupant fatalities and 4 percent of all occupants injured.

By Age: Older motorcyclists now account for half of all motorcyclist fatalities. NHTSA data show that in 2007, 49 percent of motorcyclists killed in crashes were age 40 or over, compared with 33 percent 10 years earlier. In contrast, fatalities among young motorcyclists have declined in the past 10 years, relative to other age groups. In 2007 fatalities in the under 30-year-old group dropped to 31 percent of total motorcyclists killed in crashes from 41 percent in 1997. Fatalities among motorcyclists in the 30-to 39-year-old group fell to 20 percent in 2007 from 26 percent ten years earlier.

By Driver Behavior:

Alcohol use: NHTSA says that in 2007, 27 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.08 percent (the national definition of drunk driving), compared with 23 percent of drivers of passenger cars, 23 percent of light truck drivers and 1 percent of large truck drivers in fatal crashes.

Of all fatally injured motorcycle riders, 28 percent had BACs of 0.08 percent or higher in 2007. Another 8 percent had lower alcohol levels (0.01 to 0.07 percent BAC.). Fatally injured motorcycle riders between the ages of 45 to 49 had the highest percentage of BACs 0.08 percent and above (41 percent), compared with 37 percent for those ages 40 to 44. Of fatally injured motorcycle riders age 35 to 39, 35 percent had BACs of 0.08 percent and above. Forty-one percent of the 2,182 fatally injured motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2007 (for example, those in which the motorcycle crashed into a stationary object) had BACs of 0.08 percent or higher. On weekend nights, the proportion was higher: 65 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes had BACs of 0.08 percent or higher.

Speeding: In 2007, 36 percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared with 24 percent for drivers of passenger cars, 19 percent for light truck drivers and 8 percent for large truck drivers, according to NHTSA.

Licensing: Twenty-six percent of motorcycle riders who were involved in fatal crashes were riding without a valid license in 2007, compared with 13 percent of passenger vehicle drivers. NHTSA says that motorcycle operators were also 1.3 times more likely than passenger vehicle drivers to have a prior license suspension or revocation.

By Type of Motorcycle:

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), riders of “supersports” motorcycles have driver death rates per 10,000 registered vehicles nearly four times higher than for drivers of other types of motorcycles. Supersports have more horsepower than conventional motorcycles and can reach speeds of up to 190 mph. They are built on racing platforms and are modified for street use. The bikes are popular with riders under the age of 30. The bikes are light-weight and aerodynamically styled. In 2005, these bikes registered 22.5 driver deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles compared with 10.7 deaths for other sport models (related to supersports but do not have the acceleration, stability and handling of supersports). Standards and cruisers and touring bikes, with upright handlebars, have rates of 5.7 and 6.5 per 10,000 vehicles. In 2005, supersports accounted for 9 percent of registrations, and standards and cruisers made up 51 percent of registrations. Among fatally injured drivers, the IIHS says that drivers of supersports were the youngest—with an average age of 27. Touring motorcycle drivers were the oldest, 51 years old. Fatally injured drivers of other sports models were 34, on average; standard and cruiser drivers were 44 years old. Speeding and driver error were bigger factors in supersport and sport fatal crashes. Speed was cited in 57 percent of supersport riders’ fatal crashes in 2005 and in 46 percent for sport model riders. Speed was a factor in 27 of fatal crashes of riders of cruisers and standards, and for 22 percent of riders of touring models.

Collision Losses by Type: The IIHS says that supersports have the overall highest insurance losses under collision coverage among the motorcycle classes, almost four times higher than for touring models and more than six times higher than for cruisers. Nine of the ten motorcycles with the highest losses were supersports. Claim frequency is driving the high losses for supersports, meaning that they are involved in more collisions than other types of motorcycles—there were 9 claims per 100 insured vehicle years for supersports models, compared with 2.3 for all models. The models surveyed were all 2002-2006 models. Touring motorcycles had the most expensive claims because they are the most expensive to purchase. Supersport models are the most popular with thieves—with average loss payments for theft losses per insured vehicle years of $246 for 2002-2006 models, seven times higher than the average for all motorcycles. Supersport models had the highest frequency of thefts—31.8 per insured vehicle year, compared with cruisers and touring models which had the lowest at 1.1 claims per insured vehicle year. However, touring models had the highest average loss payments—$15,696, reflecting their high purchase price and upgrades.

Thefts: The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and LoJack Corporation, a manufacturer of electronic vehicle tracking and recovery systems, found that 67 percent of motorcycle owners who participated in an online survey are at high risk for motorcycle theft. The survey, which was conducted in July and August 2007, found that the high risk resulted from owners not taking precautions such as securing their motorcycles to an immovable object when parked, or arming their bikes with alarms, kill switches and recovery systems. Respondents scored better by applying common sense theft protection measures such as parking in a concealed area at home or in a well-lit area in a parking lot and never leaving the keys on a parked bike. According to the NICB, 71,523 motorcycles were stolen in 2006, a 137 percent rise since 2000.
SAFETY ISSUES

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF, http://www.msf-usa.org), sponsored by motorcycle manufacturers and distributors, works with NHTSA, state governments and other organizations to improve motorcycle safety through education, training and licensing. Since 1973 about 3.2 million motorcyclists have taken MSF training courses. The organization also works with the states to integrate rider safety and skills in licensing tests. It also promotes safety by recommending motorcycle operators wear protective gear, especially helmets, ride sober and ride within their skill limits.

Motorcycle Helmets: In 2007 motorcycle helmets saved 1,784 lives. NHTSA says that if all motorcyclists had worn helmets, 800 more lives would have been saved. Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries.

A NHTSA study covering 10 states found that when universal helmet laws, which pertain to all riders, were repealed, helmet use rates dropped from 99 percent to 50 percent. In states where the universal law was reinstated, helmet use rates rose to above 95 percent.

Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws: According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 20 states and the District of Columbia had laws on the books requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets as of December 2008 (See chart below). In another 27 states only people under a specific age (mostly between 17 and 20 years of age) were required to wear helmets. Three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) had no helmet use laws.

According to NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey, a nationally representative observational survey, motorcycle helmet use rose to 63 percent in June 2008 from 58 percent in June 2007. Helmet use reached a high of 71 percent in October 2000. Use rates remain lower in states that do not require all riders to use helmets. In June 2008, 78 percent of motorcyclists in states requiring helmet use wore them, compared with 50 percent of motorcyclists in states that do not. Motorcycle helmet use was highest in the West, at 71 percent, and was 67 percent in the Midwest, 61 percent in the South and 45 percent in the Northeast. The survey counts only helmets that comply with Department of Transportation standards.
STATE MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE LAWS

As of December 2008


 

Universal law (1)

Partial law (1)
State  
AlabamaX 
Alaska 17 and younger (2)
Arizona 17 and younger 
Arkansas 20 and younger
CaliforniaX 
Colorado 17 and younger and their passengers 17 and younger
Connecticut 17 and younger
Delaware 18 and younger
District of ColumbiaX 
Florida 20 and younger (3)
GeorgiaX 
Hawaii 17 and younger
Idaho 17 and younger 
Illinois  
Indiana 17 and younger 
Iowa  
Kansas 17 and younger 
Kentucky 20 and younger  (3), (4) 
LouisianaX 
Maine 14 and younger (4)
MarylandX 
MassachusettsX 
MichiganX 
Minnesota 17 and younger (4)
MississippiX 
MissouriX 
Montana 17 and younger 
NebraskaX 
NevadaX 
New Hampshire  
New JerseyX 
New Mexico 17 and younger 
New YorkX 
North CarolinaX 
North Dakota 17 and younger (5)
Ohio 17 and younger (6)
Oklahoma 17 and younger 
OregonX 
Pennsylvania 20 and younger (7)
Rhode Island 20 and younger (7)
South Carolina 20  and younger
South Dakota 17 and younger
TennesseeX 
Texas 20 and younger (3)
Utah 17 and younger 
VermontX 
VirginiaX 
WashingtonX 
West VirginiaX 
Wisconsin 17 and younger (2)
Wyoming 18 and younger 

(1) Universal laws cover all riders; partial laws cover young riders or some adult riders.
(2) Alaska's motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all ages, operators younger than 18, and operators with instructional permits.
(3) In Florida and Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. In Florida, those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Texas exempts riders 21 years or older if they either 1) can show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training and safety course or 2) can show proof of  having a medical insurance policy.
(4) Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin also cover operators with instructional/learner's permits. Maine's motorcycle helmet use law also covers passengers 14 years and younger and passengers if their operators are required to wear a helmet.
(5) North Dakota's motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers traveling with operators who are covered by the law.
(6) Ohio's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first year of licensure and all passengers of operators who are covered by the law.
(7) Rhode Island's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first year of licensure and all passengers. Pennsylvania's motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first two years of licensure unless the operator has completed the safety course approved by the department or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute.

MOTORCYCLE HELMET USE, 1994-2008 (1)


Year

Percent 

Year

Percent  
199463%200458%
199664200548
199867200651
200071200758
200258200863

(1) Based on surveys of motorcyclists using helmets meeting Department of Transportation standards. Surveys conducted in October for 1994-2000 and in June thereafter.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

MOTORCYCLIST FATALITIES AND FATALITY RATES, 1996-2006


Year

Fatalities

Registered motorcycles

Fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles

Vehicle miles traveled (millions)

Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
19962,1613,871,59955.829,92021.78
19972,1163,826,37355.3010,08120.99
19982,2943,879,45059.1310,28322.31
19992,4834,152,43359.8010,58423.46
20002,8974,346,06866.6610,46927.67
20013,1974,903,05665.209,63933.17
20023,2705,004,15665.359,55234.23
20033,7145,370,03568.169,57738.78
20044,0285,767,93469.8310,12239.79
20054,5766,227,14673.4810,45443.77
20064,8106,686,14771.9412,40138.79

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Federal Highway Administration.

MOTORCYCLIST INJURIES AND INJURY RATES, 1996-2006




Year

Injuries

Registered motorcycles

Injury rate per 100,000 registered vehicles

Vehicle miles traveled (millions)

Injury rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
199655,0003,871,5991,4289,920557
199753,0003,826,3731,37410,081522
199849,0003,879,4501,26210,283476
199950,0004,152,4331,20410,584472
200058,0004,346,0681,32810,469551
200160,0004,903,0561,2299,639625
200265,0005,004,1561,2939,552677
200367,0005,370,0351,2509,577701
200476,0005,767,9341,32410,122755
200587,0006,227,1461,40210,454835
200688,0006,686,1471,31112,401707

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Federal Highway Administration.

OCCUPANT FATALITY RATES BY VEHICLE TYPE, 1996 AND 2006


Fatality rate 

Motorcycles

Passenger cars

Light trucks
1996   
     Per 100,000 registered vehicles55.8218.0615.18
     Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled21.781.501.26
2006   
     Per 100,000 registered vehicles71.9413.0112.95
     Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled38.791.101.10
Percent Change, 1996-2006   
     Per 100,000 registered vehicles28.9%-28.0%-14.7%
     Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled78.1-26.7-12.7
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS KILLED OR INJURED BY TIME OF DAY AND DAY OF WEEK, 2006


 

Day of week 

 

 

Weekday 

Weekend 

Total

Time of day

Number

Percent 

Number

Percent 

Number

Percent 
Motorcycle riders killed       
Midnight to 3 am 205 8.5% 28211.7%48710.1% 
3 am to 6 am 622.6984.11603.3
6 am to 9 am 1857.7713.02565.3
9 am to Noon 2088.7179 7.4 3878.0 
Noon to 3 pm 38215.941117.1 79316.5 
3 pm to 6 pm 58724.4420 17.51,00720.9
6 pm to 9 pm 43818.2 567 23.61,005 20.9
9 pm to Midnight 32313.536615.268914.3
Unknown 110.5110.5 260.5
Total 2,401 100.02,405 100.04,810 (1)100.0
       
Motorcycle riders injured 
Midnight to 3 am 2,000 3.32,000 5.5 4,000 4.3
3 am to 6 am 1,000 2.9 1,000 2.02,000 2.5 
6 am to 9 am 5,000 10.31,000 3.16,000 7.1
9 am to Noon 6,000 11.45,000 12.210,00011.8
Noon to 3 pm 9,000 17.98,000 20.016,00018.8
3 pm to 6 pm 14,00029.29,000 24.524,00027.1
6 pm to 9 pm 8,000 15.98,000 20.116,00017.7
9 pm to Midnight 5,000 9.25,000 12.99,000 10.7
Total 49,000100.038,000100.088,000100.0
(1) Includes 4 motorcycle riders killed on unknown day of week.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
VEHICLES INVOLVED IN CRASHES BY VEHICLE TYPE AND CRASH SEVERITY, 2006


 

Crash severity     

 

 

Fatal 

Injury 

Property damage only

Total  

Vehicle type

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent
Passenger car24,08741.6%1,794,00056.4%4,046,00055.1%5,864,00055.4%
Light truck22,29038.51,202,00037.82,932,00039.94,156,00039.3
Large truck4,7328.280,0002.5300,0004.1385,0003.6
Motorcycle4,9358.584,0002.615,0000.2104,0001.0
Bus2990.511,0000.341,0000.652,0000.5
Other6221.111,0000.411,0000.123,0000.2
Total57,943 (1)100.03,181,000100.07,345,000100.010,584,000100.0
(1) Includes 978 vehicles of unknown type involved in fatal crashes.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
PERSONS KILLED IN TOTAL AND ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED
CRASHES BY PERSON TYPE, 2007



 

 

Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities (1)

Person type

Total killed

Number

Percent
Vehicle occupants   
     Driver21,6478,07337%
     Passenger8,6572,52929
     Unknown occupant9755
     Total30,40110,60635
Motorcyclists5,1541,62031
Nonoccupants   
     Pedestrian4,65466014
     Pedalcyclist6988712
     Other/unknown1522717
     Total5,50477314
Total41,05912,99832%
(1) Alcohol-impaired driving crashes are crashes that involve at least one driver or a motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or above, the legal definition of drunk driving.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

DRIVERS IN FATAL CRASHES BY BLOOD ALCOHOL
CONCENTRATION (BAC) AND VEHICLE TYPE, 1996-2006 (1)



 

Passenger car    

Light truck   

Large truck  

Motorcycles  

 

 

Percent  

 

Percent  

 

Percent  

 

Percent  

Year

Total

BAC = 0.01+

BAC = 0.08+

Total

BAC = 0.01+

BAC = 0.08+

Total

BAC = 0.01+

BAC = 0.08+

Total

BAC = 0.01+

BAC = 0.08+
199630,59527%23%18,11828%24%4,7033%2%2,17543%35%
199729,896262218,50226234,859322,1594132
199828,907262119,24726224,905212,3334134
199927,878252119,86526224,868312,5284033
200027,661282420,39326224,948312,9714032
200127,444272320,70427234,779213,2613729
200227,236272221,56227234,550323,3633931
200326,422262222,17225224,658213,8003629
200425,568272322,36725214,837214,1163427
200525,046282422,87925224,900314,6793427
200623,988272322,18527244,695314,9333427
(1) NHTSA estimates alcohol involvement when alcohol test results are unknown.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

KEY SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.highwaysafety.org

U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation: http://www.msf-usa.org

The Motorcycle Industry Council: http://www.mic.org

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety: http://www.saferoads.org
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