According to the IIHS, the most deadly state for motorcycle accidents in Mississippi. With 25.4 fatalities per 100,000 people, Mississippi had the highest rate of motorcycle accidents. Other states with high fatality rates include Florida, Alabama, and Wyoming. It’s important to remember that motorcycle accidents can happen to any rider, so be careful and obey the rules.
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Speeding was one of the biggest contributing factors to the deaths of motorcycle riders last year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 22 percent of motorcycle drivers were speeding in 2020. The number was slightly higher on the weekdays. Among motorcycle riders ages 25 to 29, speeding was associated with 45 percent of fatal crashes.
However, there are ways to protect yourself from the deadly consequences of speeding while on a motorcycle. The best way to prevent fatal motorcycle accidents is to wear a helmet and obey traffic laws. Motorcycle riders should also be careful when passing other vehicles, which can increase the risk of collisions.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one-quarter of motorcycle fatalities in the United States are caused by drunk drivers. This figure is higher than the percentage of drivers of passenger cars and light trucks. A motorcycle rider is three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash if he or she is operating the motorcycle while intoxicated.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working with law enforcement agencies across the country to reduce the number of motorcycle crashes caused by drunk driving. The agency recently issued a public awareness campaign aimed at helping motorcycle riders stay safe while riding. Their slogan, “Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over,” encourages motorcycle riders to plan and make sure a sober driver is present.
Motorcyclists often face several risks when on the road. One of the most common is improper lane use. While it may seem harmless, improper lane use can cause serious injuries or even death. When a motorcyclist is in the wrong lane, they can be struck by a car that fails to notice them. Another risk is lane splitting. This is when a motorcycle rides in between two rows of stopped cars. This can be particularly dangerous because side mirrors or paint on other vehicles can be clipped or scraped. Moreover, it is distracting to other drivers.
Improper lane use is the leading cause of fatal motorcycle accidents. Another common cause of motorcycle accidents is improper left-hand turns. When a vehicle makes a left-hand turn, it may hit a motorcycle that is traveling straight through an intersection, passing another vehicle, or trying to overtake a car. A lack of awareness of motorcycles’ blind spots also contributes to motorcycle accidents.
The engine size of a motorcycle can have a major impact on the fatality rate of a motorcycle crash. Motorcycles with 1000cc or larger engines have twice as many fatalities as motorcycles with smaller engines. Motorcycle riders with large engines may not be as well-equipped to avoid dangers, leading to more accidents.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tracks motorcycle fatalities. From 1990 to 2010, thirty-four percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involved motorcycles with engine sizes over 1,400 ccs. By comparison, only two percent of fatal motorcycle crashes involved motorcycles with engines of less than 1,000 cc. However, the percentages have been increasing in recent years.
Motorcycle riders who died in crashes had the highest rate of previous driving records. These statistics are based on FARS records of fatal crashes involving motorcycles within five years of the date of the accident. In addition, fatal crashes involving motorcycles involved a higher rate of non-licensed drivers. This could have several implications. One of these is that a motorcycle license is required to drive a motorcycle legally.
A recent study by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that nearly one in five motorcyclists who died in crashes had a previous driving record. According to the data, motorcycle riders with previous driving records were 1.4 times more likely to die in a crash than non-motorcyclists with clean driving records. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 14 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in 2020. This number is more than double the number recorded in 1997. Another surprising finding of the report was the fact that motorcycle accident fatalities were higher among unlicensed drivers than among license holders in 2019. Moreover, the rate of unlicensed motorcycle drivers killed in accidents increased from 2019 to 2020.
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