I love to watch the outdoors shake off the long winter and bloom into spring. With the warmer weather comes an abundance of outdoor activities. While some of my favorite activities involve the outdoors, there needs to be heightened caution and awareness to prevent injuries or, even worse, tragedy. One area where I have seen life-altering tragedy occur involves motorcycles. Feeling the wind in your face, hearing the roar of the engine, and just feeling the freedom of riding on a motorcycle is hard to surpass. However, be aware of the following statistics while you are out enjoying your ride:
Motorcycle accident statistics
According to the National Safety Council, in 2017, 5,172 motorcycle riders and passengers died in crashes. Fatalities among motorcycle riders and passengers have more than doubled in number since 1997.
- Motorcycles make up 3% of all registered vehicles, and only .6% of all vehicle miles traveled in the U.S.
- Motorcyclists accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2017
- 28% of riders who died in a motorcycle crash in 2017 were alcohol-impaired
- 91% of riders who died in a motorcycle crash in 2017 were male
Safety awareness for motorcycles
The National Motorcycle Safety Awareness month for motorcycles is May. I am hopeful that both motorcycles drivers and vehicle operators are mindful that:
- Motorcycles are relatively small, and drivers don’t see them.
- Drivers don’t anticipate motorcycles’ movements.
- The driver’s view of the motorcyclist is obstructed, often by the vehicle’s blind spots or other vehicles.
Please don’t drive distracted or impaired and remember those around you so that all of us have a wonderful outdoor experience.
