Riding a motorcycle comes with certain risks due to the very nature of its design. Thousands of people become injured each year when they collide with other vehicles or stationary objects and, in some cases, fatalities occur as well.
The Insurance Information Institute notes that 84,000 people suffered injuries in 2019 due to motorcycle accidents, and while safe driving courses and helmets help save lives and reduce the chance of injury, certain risk factors remain that could contribute to a motorcycle accident.
Time of day and week
The majority of motorcycle accidents in 2019 took place on weekends, between 6-9 p.m. This suggests that increased weekend traffic and night driving are both likely factors in these accidents. The number of accidents also rose in the overnight hours, when drivers of passenger vehicles and larger trucks may have trouble seeing motorcyclists, especially when they do not wear reflective gear.
Alcohol use
Drinking and driving a motorcycle is just as dangerous as getting behind the wheel of a car while drunk, and the risk of an accident is likely to increase as a driver’s blood alcohol content rises. This also puts any passenger at risk, as both driver and rider often get ejected during a crash. Motorcyclists can reduce the risk of a serious accident by avoiding alcohol use when out with their bikes.
Motorcyclists are highly vulnerable to death and serious injury during an accident when compared to those who drive enclosed vehicles and must make safety a priority. Defensive driving and the use of protective gear, such as helmets and durable clothing, may reduce the risk of injury or death.
