The American Motorcyclist Association announced last week that in 2013 motorcycle fatalities decreased for the second year in a row.
The report “Spotlight on Safety” from the Governors Highway Safety Association states that in the first 9 months of 2012 and 2013 the number of motorcycle fatalities fell.
As you may recall, deaths from motorcycle crashes doubled be-tween 2001 and 2008 according to the Centers for Disease Control. That sparked speculation that the rapid aging of the motorcyclist population, due to a high number of older re-entry riders, was to blame for the rise in deaths. There was much discussion about older yet inexperienced riders flooding the motorcycle statistics with crashes due to a lack of safety training and an abundance of rusty riding skills.
The CDC has published the graph below, however, that shows a sharp decline in fatal accidents after age 54. This follows a rise in fatal crashes between ages 34 and 44.
The trend of 2001-2008 was reversed dramatically in 2009 and has continued to improve for now, but the AMA press release states that the “Spotlight on Safety” report offers no conclusions as to why.
The best answer to any safety problem at this time is the 3-part one we MSTA members are already applying: get trained, wear the gear and ride sober. The CDC also adds that we should avoid tailgating and watch our speed on gravel or slippery surfaces.
As for the safety gear, CDC also reports that 60% of all non-fatal injuries in motorcycle crashes are to the upper body: 22% head, 20% upper trunk and 18% arms and hands. Thirty percent of non-fatal injuries involve the feet and legs.
One last thing: It remains the position of the CDC that helmets save lives. No study I am aware of has ever refuted this.
