Traffic Safety Facts 2020 Data
These traffic safety facts show just how risky this sport is and by sharing this information I hope to shed light on the facts. Knowledge is power if you put that knowledge to use.
The information was taken from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes from the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS), General Estimates System (FES) and Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS).
Key Findings:
Motorcyclists accounted for 14% of all vehicle fatalities, which resulted in 5,579 deceased riders. This is highest number of riders killed since 1975.
Eventhough motorcyclist only make up 3% of all registered vehicles and only account for 0.6% of vehicle miles traveled, we account for 18% of the fatalities!
From 2011 to 2020 motorcyclist fatalities increased by 20%, with the highest number of fatalities in 2020.
From 2019 to 2020 the number of fatalities increased by 11%, however the number of injuries decreased by 2%, which was 82,528 riders. (This tells me, because of the forces of impact due to excessive speeds, we aren’t just getting hurt, we are killing ourselves).
36% of riders involved in fatal crashes were riding without a valid motorcycle license.
Riders involved in fatal crashes had higher percentages of alcohol impairment than drivers of any other motor vehicle (27% motorcycles, 23% for passenger cars, 19% for light trucks, and 3% for large trucks).
41% of riders who died in single-vehicle crashed were alcohol-impaired.
57% of riders killed were not wearing helmets, as compared to 11% in States with universal helmet laws.
61% of motorcycle fatalities occurred in urban areas compared to 39% in rural areas.
35% of the fatalities occurred in intersections.
92% of the fatalities occurred on non-interstate roads compared to 8% on interstates.
25% of motorcycle fatalities involved riders hitting fixed objects. (They are crashing all by themselves! No one else is even around. This is due to excessive speeds, over riding sight distance and ineffective countersteering - Total Control Curriculum).
When motorcyclist had an encounter with another vehicle, 42% of the time the other vehicle is making a left-hand turn while the motorcyclists were going straight, passing, or overtaking other vehicles. Approximately, 20% of those riders die.
Don’t be a stastistic!
96% of the time riders are the striking vehicle (Total Control Training Curriculum). We may not always be at fault, but we are the ones who pay the high price to any crash. In my experience, I have found that most riders who take the Basic Rider Course don’t practice the skills that are taught. They think they know how to ride a motorcycle, when really they are just relying on PDL (pure dumb luck). If riders don’t practice the skills taught to the point it is built-in muscle memory, when a rider has to make a sudden evasive maneuver, they aren’t going to have to correct inputs and it more than likely will result in a crash.
I’m part of the 96% group because I did what most riders do and that is not practice the skills taught. I just went out a rode. It took 6 years for my PDL to run out and I paid a very high price when I couldn’t manage a vehicle making a left-hand turn in front of me. It took 2 years to recover from 7 orthopedic surgeries and to this day (many years later) my body reminds me of that accident. Don’t be part of the 96% group! Be the 4% and never strike the ground, a guard rail, tree, telephone pole or another vehicle. Practice the skills that are taught in the Basic Rider Course, take additional training to build on those skills because there is SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN than just the BASIC rider skills, practice often and make good choices.
This is an amazing sport, but it can have grave consequences!
