Motorcycle Accidents

Never drink or speed.

More than 40 percent of motorcycle riders who die in single-vehicle crashes are alcohol-impaired, and speed is at play in more than a third of fatal crashes. Staying sober and observing the speed limit go a long way to ensuring you'll arrive safely at your destination.

In 2013, two-wheeled motorcycles accounted for 93 percent of all motorcycles in fatal crashes. In 2013, motorcyclists accidents accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, 4 percent of all people injured, 18 percent of all occupants (driver and passenger) fatalities, and 4 percent of all occupants injured.



The number of motorcyclists killed in crashes dropped to 4,985 in 2018, an almost 5% decrease, but motorcycle riders are still overrepresented in traffic fatalities. To keep everyone safe, we urge drivers and motorcyclists to share the road and be alert, and we're reminding motorcyclists to make themselves visible, to use DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets, and to always ride sober.

There are a few basic things every rider knows to do in order to stay safe on their cruiser, sports bike, or touring motorcycle. The first rule is to always wear protective gear. Helmets really do save lives. Don’t believe me? Check out this article on their effectiveness. I’ll also provide a link to an article about the different types of motorcycle helmets. Besides just protecting your head, there is a lot of other valuable parts south of the neck. Wearing protective gloves, jackets, pants, suits, boots, etc. can greatly reduce your risk of being injured. Because chances are, you will come off your bike at some point. Just like it is inevitable that someone in a car will get into a fender bender, if you ride a motorcycle long enough, you will probably be falling off at least once.

Taking a motorcycle safety course is a valuable way to spend your time and money, as well. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers courses all over the country, from basic beginner classes required to get a license, all the way up to more advanced courses that teach riders evasive movements and how to spot a potential collision.