Motorcyclist Safety

Motorcyclists are overrepresented in crashes and fatalities. In 2017, 5,172 motorcyclists lost their lives on America's roads, a 3.1% decrease from the year prior.¹ GHSA examines motorcyclist safety and factors that may be contributing to the decrease in fatalities in its recent report on the issue. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides these statistics on motorcycle safety in the United States:

• Helmet Use
  NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets saved an estimated 1,859 lives in 2016. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 802 lives could have been saved.²
• Licensing Issues
  Twenty-seven percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2016 were riding their vehicles without valid motorcycle licenses at the time of the collisions.²
• Impaired Riding
  In 2016, there were 4,950 motorcycle riders killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those, 1,259 (25%) were alcohol-impaired (BAC of .08 or higher).²
• Speeding
  In 2016, 33 percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding.²

States use both national and statewide data to find the right mix of rider education, enforcement and laws to decrease deaths and injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes.

¹ National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2017, October). 2016 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview (Traffic Safety Facts Crash•Stats. Report No. DOT HS 812 456). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812456

² National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2018, October). 2017 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview (Traffic Safety Facts Crash•Stats. Report No. DOT HS 812 603). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812603.