You love traveling and getting to see people. You also love feeling the wind against you as you ride. There’s a certain amount of adrenaline that you get on your motorcycle. You’re in the elements and get to feel every little bump on the road. You feel in control and closer to nature.
Unfortunately, motorcyclists are at a higher risk of getting hurt in crashes. Did you know that motorcyclists were 27 times more likely to die in a crash per mile traveled compared to passenger car occupants? Information from 2017 provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that 5,172 motorcyclists died that year in collisions. That was a 3% decrease from the year before.
In 2016, there were 5,172 people killed in motorcycle accidents. This was an increase over 2015, but it was still a decrease from 2008, the first recorded year, when the fatality rate was 68.52 per 100,000 registered motorcycles.
What makes it so dangerous to be a motorcyclist?
There are a few things that make being a motorcyclist dangerous. The first is that a motorcycle offers no significant protection in the case of a collision. For example, if you’re hit from behind, you don’t have a belt to hold you to your seat. You could be thrown or run over.
Another thing that makes a motorcycle dangerous is its small size. A driver may misinterpret how fast you’re traveling and strike you. They may not see you and pull out in your path. The lack of visibility of being on a small vehicle is a problem, which is why many motorcyclists tune up their engines to make more noise and wear bright or reflective colors when they ride.
Can you reduce the risk of injuries when you ride?
The sad thing about motorcycling is that it does have a higher risk for people who choose to ride. If you want to reduce your risk of injury, there are a few things you can do. Some include:
- Wearing a helmet
- Wearing bright and reflective clothing
- Making your engine louder
- Honking or using sound to alert a driver to your presence
- Making eye contact
- Riding in groups, which are easier to see
- Riding a larger motorcycle or three-wheeler
These are all things you can do to stand out more and minimize the risk of a collision. It’s both motorcyclists and drivers who need to start making changes to reduce the risk of collisions.
