The risk of riding a motorcycle appears to just be getting worse from year to year. While fatality rates in most motor vehicles have seen increases and decreases — dropping from 2006 to 2012, for example, before rising again — there has been a slow but steady rise in motorcycle fatalities.
Despite being a relatively slow increase, the cumulative effect has been noticeable. In 1994, there were about 2,500 deaths in motorcycle accidents. In 2016, there were just over 5,000. Both of these numbers are far below the roughly 40,000 people who pass away in car accidents as a whole every year, but it still says something that the fatality numbers literally doubled.
That said, one thing to keep in mind is the increase in the population over the same time. As the population of the country increases and we simply have more riders on the roads, accident numbers are bound to go up as well. These statistics reflect the overall numbers, but not the number of deaths per mile ridden. It’s an important distinction.
Does all of this mean that you shouldn’t ride? Is it too dangerous? That’s a decision that everyone needs to make on their own. What these stats should do is just make you aware of the risks so that you can take proper precautions and stay safer on your bike.
Unfortunately, as long as other drivers are involved, you can’t always guarantee your safety. If you get injured in an accident someone else causes, you need to know if you have a right to financial compensation for your costs.
