Why You Should Care

Although motorcycle usage is down, the incidence of deaths as well as injuries on motorcycles have been steadily increasing over the past seven years. Each year, an average of 3,000 people die as a result of a motorcycle accident and around 60,000 are injured.

In Indiana, there were 2,157 motorcycle* crashes in 1999. 1,637 were injured and 67 were fatalities

Factors contributing to this problem are: lack of helmet usage, (helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists and passengers in Indiana was 11 percent in 2002) lack of helmet laws, unlicensed cyclists and almost a third of the fatally injured operators are unlicensed and speeding.

Potential rider profiles show that two age groups are most at risk for injuries and death (According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's June 2001 Recent Trends in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes), people between the ages of 16-30 and people over the age of 40. Part of the challenge for this campaign will be that the reasons are different across age groups.

 

What is occurring:

Characteristics: Under the age of 30

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's June 2001 Recent Trends in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes report the following reasons contributed to fatalities:

  • Speeding is a factor in riders under the age of 30.
  • The under 30 age group is most likely to be improperly licensed.
  • According to the report the under 30 age group has the largest number of fatalities every year from 1990-99.
  • Characteristics: Over the age of 40 (Baby Boomers, born 1946-1964)

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's June 2001 Recent Trends in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes report the following reason contributed to fatalities:

  • More people over the age of 40 are operating motorcycles.
  • Loss of physical senses – vision, hearing and reflexes.
  • Many Baby Boomers are overweight and not physically fit.

Even though the under 30 age group had the highest number of fatalities, the number began to decline in the late 90s, as the number of fatalities for those 40 and older began to increase.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle ownership among the over-40 crowd has been on the rise, jumping from 15.1 percent of total motorcycle ownership in 1980 to 43.7 percent by 1998. (Reported in North Carolina's The New Bern Sun Journal). According to the NHTSA, motorcyclists 40 and older accounted for 47 percent of 3,900 fatalities in 2004 and 60 percent of the yearly increase in deadly crashes.

 

What Should Be Occurring:

Under the age of 30

  • Promote basic road safety such as don't speed.
  • Learn how to handle the bike.
  • Promote safety wear, such as helmets and protective clothing
  • Encourage proper motorcycle registration (More research needed to determine how or if this reduces injuries).

Over the age of 40

  • Promote basic road safety and understanding of how to drive the bike.
  • Consider physical health – strength, vision and hearing.
  • Promote more informed, realistic decision-making.
If better safety measures are not taken such as increased helmet use, better education, wearing protective clothing, driving at appropriate speeds and changing policies (e.g. – helmet laws) … riders will continue to be more susceptible to death, injury and permanent disability which can affect quality of life. Accidents also can result in an increase of financial costs for the rider and his or her family, as well as health care costs for other health care consumers.