Motorcycle deaths are often caused by alcohol impairment, speeding, inexperience, and other drivers. Motorcycles are less crash resistant than cars, and age and inexperience can increase the risk of accidents. Safety programs and regional laws can help reduce accidents.
Common causes of motorcycle deaths include impairment from alcohol, speeding and inexperience, or from other drivers on the road. Motorcycles tend to be less crash resistant than cars and trucks, making their drivers less likely to survive crashes. Accident and fatality trends may vary in response to economic trends, safety programs and other factors. Many nations maintain separate motorcycle accident statistics for the benefit of analysis by insurance agencies, government regulators, and other interested parties.
Factors such as age and inexperience can play a role in fatal motorcycle accidents. Research by the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration shows that over half of crashes involve drivers over the age of 40. New drivers of any age are at a higher risk of making mistakes, especially in the dark or in inclement weather such as rain and snow. They may be less able to recover from a slip or other problem, which can lead to an accident.
Speeding is another common contributor to motorcycle fatalities. Many accidents occur while cornering, demonstrating that speeding drivers may not be able to negotiate curves or recover from chutes while navigating curves. High horsepower motorcycles can also increase fatality rates, particularly for riders used to handling less horsepowered equipment. It can be easier to accelerate and lose control with a more powerful engine.
Alcohol and drug intoxication can play a role in fatal motorcycle accidents, especially at night. Drivers with health issues have slower response times and may be more prone to bad decisions like not wearing a helmet. Drivers exceeding the recommended blood alcohol limit may be subject to penalties such as fines and compulsory classes, in an effort to limit the number of disabled drivers on the road.
Finally, other drivers may be responsible for fatal motorcycle accidents. Motorcycles are difficult to see, and other drivers may not give way or make other mistakes around motorcycles, especially at intersections and when changing lanes. The relatively small size of a motorcycle means that a mistake like casting without checking the mirrors can have fatal consequences for the rider.
Safety programs can focus on educating other motorcycle drivers to reduce the number of multivehicle crashes by making all drivers more aware of motorcycles and right-of-way laws and related topics. Regional laws can also have an impact. For example, some regions allow lane splitting for motorcyclists, which can increase the risk of fatal accidents. This involves switching between lanes of stationary or slow-moving vehicles, a legal practice in much of Europe.
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