Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 2005.

[xcel]

Young drivers dying in car crashes did decline in 2005 for the third straight year.

Rae Tyson - NHTSA - August 22, 2006


Motorcycle fatalities rose 13 percent from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005

An increase in motorcycle and pedestrian deaths contributed to an overall rise in highway fatalities in 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today. The total number of fatalities rose 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004 to 43,443 in 2005 while the rate of fatalities was 1.47 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), up from 1.45 in 2004.

Despite the spike in motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities, Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino noted other fatality trends were improving. She explained that the number of young drivers dying in car crashes declined in 2005 for the third straight year while the number of children who were killed in crashes also declined. The largest drop was for children ages 8-15.

“We have no tolerance for any numbers higher than zero,” said Acting Secretary Cino. “Motorcyclists need to wear their helmets, drivers need to buckle up and all motorists need to stay sober.”

The Acting Secretary said the increase in vehicle fatalities comes from the dramatic rise in the number of motorcycle fatalities and increases in the number of pedestrian fatalities over the previous year. She noted, for example, that motorcycle fatalities rose 13 percent from 4,028 in 2004 to 4,553 in 2005 and that almost half of the people who died were not wearing a helmet. The number of pedestrian fatalities increased to 4,881 in 2005 from 4,675 in 2004, the Acting Secretary added. NHTSA is investigating this year’s increase in pedestrian fatalities to determine the cause.

Cino said NHTSA is working to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities by encouraging motorcyclists to get proper training, always wear helmets, and absolutely never drink and ride. She added that the Department’s Federal Highway Administration is working with state and local governments to improve pedestrian safety and that the agency is providing more than $600 million over the next three years to help states develop pedestrian safety programs.

Specifically, NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System shows that, between 2004 and 2005, the number of young drivers (16-20) killed declined by 4.6 percent from 3,538 to 3,374. Fatal crashes involving young drivers declined by 6.3 percent from 7,431 to 6,964. Meanwhile, the number of children 0-15 dying in crashes dropped from 2,622 in 2004 to 2,348 in 2005.

Cino added that the number of people injured in motor vehicle crashes declined 3.2 percent from 2.8 million in 2004 to 2.7 million in 2005. Passenger vehicle occupant fatalities also dropped by 451, from 31,866 in 2004 to 31,415 in 2005, the lowest level since 1994.

In addition, the number of fatalities from large truck crashes declined slightly from 5,235 to 5,212, while the number of occupants killed in rollover crashes increased 2.1 percent from 10,590 to 10, 816. And the number of SUV rollover fatalities dropped 1.8 percent from 2,929 to 2,877.

“We will not be satisfied until the fatality and injury numbers reach zero,” said NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason.

NHTSA collects crash statistics annually from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to produce annual reports of traffic fatality trends. The 2005 report can be seen at: 50 State Crash Statisitic – Annual Report

Reporters interested in seeing additional state data as well as data at the county level should go to NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) State Traffic Safety Information (STSI) website located at STSI

[AshenGrey]

Y'know... Back when I had my motorcycle (1986-1997), I actually drove my Suzuki GS450L a lot more conservatively than I ever drove a car. I never had it above 75 MPH (I drove my car faster back then), I didn't do that idiotic "weave through traffic at 130 MPH" crap.

But in BALTIMORE, lemme tell ya: the some of the motorcyclists drive like they're in the movie TRON. And I never know whether to swerve out of their way (so they don't impact the back of my car) or to keep in place (for when they make a dangerous 100+ MPH swerve 4" from my car).

Some of the bikers make SUV drivers seem downright courteouis by comparison.

But let me say that it's just a FRACTION of the bikers that behave that way. Unfortunately, they're the ones people notice and remember.

My Suzuki got about 80 MPG. I drove a motorcycle for 11 years because it sure did save a lot of gasoline. It probably wasn't so hot for emmissions, I imagine.

[psyshack]

Originally Posted by AshenGrey

Y'know... Back when I had my motorcycle (1986-1997), I actually drove my Suzuki GS450L a lot more conservatively than I ever drove a car. I never had it above 75 MPH (I drove my car faster back then), I didn't do that idiotic "weave through traffic at 130 MPH" crap.

But in BALTIMORE, lemme tell ya: the some of the motorcyclists drive like they're in the movie TRON. And I never know whether to swerve out of their way (so they don't impact the back of my car) or to keep in place (for when they make a dangerous 100+ MPH swerve 4" from my car).

Some of the bikers make SUV drivers seem downright courteouis by comparison.

But let me say that it's just a FRACTION of the bikers that behave that way. Unfortunately, they're the ones people notice and remember.

My Suzuki got about 80 MPG. I drove a motorcycle for 11 years because it sure did save a lot of gasoline. It probably wasn't so hot for emmissions, I imagine.

I to am a X/going to be biker again. Ive owned the fast rocket bikes made in my life time. Ive been the guy that slaped your tail light as I went by at 100+ mpg. stabed the brakes and rode the front tire at 60 mph endo. I use to really get a kick out of watching folks throw there cup of coffee at the head liner as I pasted them at 130 mph on a 2-stroke F1 class modded race bike. Im chnging my ways and looking at new Harleys. they even have O2 sensors in the pipes right off the heads. dont ask me what Im going to do with the sensors and the ECU.

As for the drunks... Well there a problem. But the real problem is the sober folks that shouldnt be driving to start with. Not to mention cell phone users and the WSJ paper hangers....

My Suzuki got about 80 MPG. I drove a motorcycle for 11 years because it sure did save a lot of gasoline. It probably wasn't so hot for emmissions, I imagine.[/quote]

[lightfoot]

I've commuted by motorcycle for many years and done some touring. I go faster than I would in a car but more carefully, so maybe that qualifies as more conservative? Only one crash: on a scooter in 1973 (fell in a corner when I mistook spilled gas for water, very slippery!). And I believe riding has made me a better, more alert car driver.

People say you have to be more defensive on a bike but I believe you have to go FAR beyond defensive. You can't just react to what cars do. You have to anticipate what they MIGHT do, decide what YOU will do if they do it, set yourself up in a good position to do that, watch to see if they ARE doing it, and then execute your plan if it will work. Sounds like a lot but after a while it becomes second nature.

Also, I have a mantra I repeat when I'm about to do something silly: "I like to ride a lot, so is risking that for this silliness really worth it?". Sometimes it is, often not.

The problem is that none of this works for hormone-addled, "I'm immortal" youth.

Riding is tremendous fun, surprisingly the only thing that comes close for me is driving an Insight!

[fireflyfarm]

If you'll notice, the article doesn't mention how many motorcycles were registered that year, of if there was a change in registrations from the year before. If there was a 10% increase in bikes on the road, but a 5% increase in accidents, then the number of accidents per capita went down. If there were the same number of bikes, but they were being ridden more, then the number of accidents per capita went down.
The American Motorcyclists' Association Magazine had a very good article regarding this kind of thing a few months ago. There are legislators willing too ban ALL motorcycles based on this kind of incomplete data.
I have ridden for 12 years, and am 36 years old. I will own a motorcycle as long as I am physically able to ride. I have never ridden without a helmet, and never will.

[gershon]

I've riden 26,000 miles on 2 wheels in the past 13 months. I've never had a problem with other traffic, but then I actively work to stay in places where other people's mistakes won't hurt me.

Explaining the increase in motorcycle deaths is difficult as there is no reliable information on how many bikes are on the road or how far they are riding. It may be as simple as the reporting criteria for deaths has changed, or reporting is more comprehensive. Just look at the various articles on hypermiling and you will understand the falsehoods in the various articles on motorcycling.

Personally, I feel safer on 2 wheels than 4. My options to avoid accidents are greater. This doesn't mean heroic swerves or anything like that. Just simple stuff I can do because I'm narrower. Having a little more acceleration helps sometimes to position myself better, and so is being well trained on braking. Before hypermiling, I paid more attention on two wheels.

[Earthling]

The rising death rate is easily explained by older riders wanting to impress people by riding dressed in black from head-to-toe (the worst thing you can do on a bike), wearing fake beanie helmets, with low-beam headlights, with no training, on bikes too large for them, who have no clue what counter-steering is, and don't have enough sense to use both brakes. Instead, they panic, lock up the rear brake, and slide into trees, guardrails, etc. Ignorance kills more bikers than anything else, and there is an overabundance of it out there.

Bikers are their own worst enemies, although most car/bike collisions are the fault of the car drivers. But dressing all in black like a ninja assassin or cat burglar is the dumbest thing you can do, and is what all the bikers dudes are trying to portray as their testosterone-soaked image.

Harry

[gershon]

I'm 55. I wear a black armored leather jacket, chaps, a full face helmet, boots and gloves on every ride. Also a yellow vest for visability. I've taken BRC and ERC as well as having completed the Ride Like a Pro IV and V exercises.

Now, if you want to see how this old guy panics in an emergency watch this video I took on a ride of mine last month.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QQ4GFgzzwwo

I personally think most bike accidents are the fault of the rider. But your characterization of riders is grossly inaccurate and doesn't fit very many riders I've met. I personally agree that lack of a knowledge of countersteering is the cause of a large percentage of accidents. But is that the rider's fault if nobody teaches them? No, it's the fault of DMV testing which does little to see if a person is safe on the road.

It's not even clear the death rate is increasing as there are absolutely no reliable statistics showing how many people are riding or how many miles. Registations and licenses have gone way up, but maybe even more are riding without a license. And maybe fewer people have two bikes. There is no way to tell. It's just speulation.

Harry, I dare you to go to www.msgroup.org and make the same post you just made. You will find a group of riders dedicated to safety and I'm sure you will get some interesting responses.

[worthywads]

I agree that it can't be know precisely how many miles are driven by motorcycles or any vehicle but these numbers don't look good for motorcyclist even if they are grossly inaccurate.

http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/i..._sort_739024=5

Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Motorcycle = 38.77
Cars = 1.1
Light Trucks = 1.1

[worthywads]

Originally Posted by Earthling

The rising death rate is easily explained by older riders wanting to impress people by riding dressed in black from head-to-toe (the worst thing you can do on a bike), wearing fake beanie helmets, with low-beam headlights, with no training, on bikes too large for them, who have no clue what counter-steering is, and don't have enough sense to use both brakes. Instead, they panic, lock up the rear brake, and slide into trees, guardrails, etc. Ignorance kills more bikers than anything else, and there is an overabundance of it out there.

Bikers are their own worst enemies, although most car/bike collisions are the fault of the car drivers. But dressing all in black like a ninja assassin or cat burglar is the dumbest thing you can do, and is what all the bikers dudes are trying to portray as their testosterone-soaked image.

Harry

Simplton solution, ban black leather protection.