Everyone keeps telling me how dangerous motorcycles are. But they neglect to cite any statistics. So here are some statistics for the year 2002 from the Statistical Abstract of the United States.
135,921,000 automobiles
4,963,000 motorcycles
Miles traveled:
Automobiles: 2,856,000,000,000
Motorcycles: 9,200,000,000
Accidents:
Automobiles: 18,300,000
Motorcycles: 190,000
Miles traveled per registered vehicle:
Automobile: 21,012
Motorcycle: 1,854
Accidents per registered vehicle:
Automobile: 0.135
Motorcycle: 0.038
Accidents per 100,000 miles traveled:
Automobile: 0.641
Motorcycle: 2.065
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Automobiles are three and a half times more likely to be involved in an accident than a motorcycle. Because of the fewer miles riden versus driven.
Per mile, a motorcycle is three and a quarter times more likely to be involved in an accident. Because of ???
Looking at the miles driven/riden -- 20K plus for cars, 2K- for bikes. I ride a mere 4 miles one way to work so I only put on 5,000 this past year. To get an average of 1,854 miles a year three other bikers have to average only 800 miles a year. You are *NOT* going to maintain profiency on a motorcycle riding only a few hundred miles a year. That low mileage is a large risk factor for a motorcycle accident.
Plus.... that low mileage means recreational riding rather than commuting. Recreational as in speeding thru the twisties on your high performance sport bike. Or doing the proverbial biker bar runs and ending up riding under the influence. From other sources I seem to recall that excessive speed is a factor in well over half of all motorcycle accidents. From other sources I seem to recall that alcohol is a factor in well over half of all motorcycle accidents. In other words, the vast majority of motorcycle accidents involve excessive speed and/or alcohol.
On average a motorcyclist may expect an accident every 50,000 miles. Assuming you don't speed and don't ride under the influence and maintain profiency, your risk will be far less.
Posted by at October 4, 2005 08:19 PMYeah, those statistics don't take very much into account.
I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but before my gas station was a "prepay only" station, we'd only had two motorcycle drive-offs that I know of - and both were "crotch rockets," those fiberglass monstrosities that look more like jet skis than bikes. Classic hogs, styles like your Savage, have ALWAYS paid for their gas. As tiny as motorcycle license plates are, any one of them could have driven off easily.
Posted by: Helena at October 4, 2005 10:48 PMAnd I believe most motorcycle accidents are are direct result of idiots driving other vehicles who don't see them coming.
In most accidents I know of involving friends and family members have resulted in another vehicle pulling out in front of them and causing the accident.
Posted by: Lynne at October 5, 2005 09:11 AMThe majority of two vehicle collisions involve the driver of a car violating the motorcyclist's "right of way" because the motorist "didn't see" the motorcyclist.
Back in the late '50's - early '60's when riding with my father he explained that you NEVER have the "right of way". You may only YIELD the right of way to another. I was taught to never assume that another vehicle will yield to me simply because I have the "right of way." It has served me in good stead to avoid those who "violate my right of way."
As for not seeing -- A motorcycle is invisible. Wear a fluorescent orange jumpsuit on a pink and purple motorcycle with flashing lights and no muffler and you will not be seen. Unless a driver/vehicle has physically reacted to my presence I assume that they do not know that I am there and I must avoid them.
Posted by: Paladin at October 5, 2005 01:07 PMCar accidents are boring, unless they involve more than three and lots of fatalities. The news seems to love posting stories of motorcycle accidents, especially if the rider dies. It makes it seem as if there are more motorcyclists involved in accidents, than cars.
Posted by: Wendy at October 5, 2005 09:33 PMMy dad gave me the same advice.
I remember when I was at school there was a huge advertising campaign in the wake of continuous mc accidents caused by cars.
It was a simple catchy phrase and the ad always featured a car at a junction waiting to pull out.
Think once. Think twice. THINK BIKE! and the third time the driver looked, here comes a little mc into view.
Posted by: Lynne at October 6, 2005 04:18 AMChange the 12 to 20 in this line: line-height:12px; in the .comments-body part of the css and it'll put more space between the lines on the comments Mike, it's all squished together and the moment.
Posted by: Lynne at October 6, 2005 04:22 AM