May 19, 2012

Motorcycles Have Higher Fatality Rates versus Other Motor Vehicle per Distance Traveled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported recently that approximately 18 out of 100,000 vehicles are implicated in severe traffic accidents annually. This similar report stated that about 55 out of 100,000 motorbikes are caught up in accidents that resulted in casualties.

Details provided for information only, contact an experienced Long Island motorcycle accident attorney for additional details.

The information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that more than 5,000 people driving motorbikes pass away annually. At least 4 million motorbikes have their registrations in the USA and 5% of every highway deaths include one of these motorbikes. The biggest concern is that motorbikes present no safety measures to the motorbike drivers.

The United Kingdom UK Department of Transportation statistics show that motorbike drivers have 16 times greater possibility to undergo severe injuries than drivers using four-wheel vehicles. The information stated that motorbike fatalities keep on increasing annually. The fatality rate is 30 times more as compared to fatalities in other means of transportation.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau reported that motorbike drivers below the age of 40 have the greater possibility to die compared to riders of a similar age group who operate some other means of transportation. Motorbike drivers below 40 have 36 times greater susceptibility to severe injuries, and motorbike drivers past 40 have 20 times greater susceptibility.

The Hurt Report Shows that 75% of Motorcycle Accidents Include Automobiles

The Hurt Report printed in 1981 is just the only available motorbike safety research. The research had listed 55 results and a number of proposals which may assist in improving law enforcement and legislation. The research illustrated that greater than 60% of motorbike accidents are a result of rider miscalculations and that using the right gears and a helmet shall radically reduce severe incidents.

A major cause of motorbike accidents is mainly the neglect of other drivers to notice or distinguish motorbikes in traffic because of insufficient lights on the motorbikes, and the negligence to use defensive gears in appropriate color. On the occasion where a motorbike driver loses control of driving and a crash happens, several injuries occur from the accident.

Crashes involving road signage, lamp posts, and side railings lead to severe injuries such as broken bones, back and spine injuries, and injuries on the joints. Traumatic brain injuries and head injuries are more often than not the consequence of violent crashes on the road, a lamp post, or a signage. Motorbike drivers wearing helmets decrease the danger of serious head injuries by about 40%.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) may lessen serious injuries. Full-face helmets, Kevlar knuckle cosseted gloves, padded nylon, Cordura or Kevlar garments, goggles or a helmet visor, and crafted boots give protection to the ankles and toes and are the most excellent ways to minimize damages, as per the NHTSA.