Motorcycles are more often involved in accidents with cars because they are smaller and less visible to drivers. The NHTS 2019 report shows that for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled, the motorcycle fatality rate was 25.47 in the US. The fatality rate for motorcycles was more than both passenger vehicles and large trucks.
How dangerous are motorcycles? There are many reasons why motorcycles have such high fatality rates compared to other transport means.
Motorcycle Design
A motorcycle’s small size makes it difficult for other drivers to spot you in time. To prevent this from happening, ensure you always wear brighter clothing during daytime hours. Also, take safety measures such as a helmet with reflective stripes.
Lack of Focus
Cars have drivers who focus only on driving, and therefore, drive safely. Motorcycle riders are focused on many tasks: steering, shifting gears, applying the throttle and brakes, etc. While riding their motorcycles, they cannot focus all of their attention on what’s happening around them.
The Lack of Protection
Motorcycle drivers don’t have the safety features that automobile drivers have. Automobiles and trucks come equipped with seat belts, airbags, crumple zones, steel frames to protect occupants during collisions, and padded dashboards.
These features are unavailable in most motorcycles. At the same time, motorcyclists must wear helmets, which provide less protection than a standard hard hat. It’s common for motorcyclists to get thrown off their bikes during an accident because they aren’t strapped in like a car driver would be.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many reasons why motorcycle accidents occur as often as they do. Drivers of cars are at fault in most cases because they don’t see motorcyclists approaching. It’s the job of all drivers to be aware of their surroundings at all times while driving, but most aren’t.
All these things contribute to the higher risk for serious injuries in cases of accidents.
