Motorcycle fatalities per State

[Savago]

Interesting article:
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/which-states-have-the-most-motorcycle-fatalities

I've decided to plot the data to see what was the behavior/distribution, please see attached. The data already factors the number of registration X fatalities

One thing though is that the data doesn't factor in the number of miles logged in average per State. I would say is safe to assume that Montana has a shorter riding season than say, California.

Back in 2015 when I did a 2 weeks trip through the Northwest of USA (9 States, 3300 miles), the only State that I had a 'Holy sh*t!' moment was in Nevada, when a douche bag in a Mustang decided to cut me off in a desert road. Not representative, but I thought it was funny that Nevada is placed 14th in this list.


In your personal experience, which states would you consider 'red' when it comes to drivers not respecting motorcycles?

[..]

It's hard to see a true pattern because some states attract many out of state riders and some don't.

[Jess from VA]

I would opine that motorcycle accidents are at least as likely due to rider error as bad cage drivers.

And its not always either-or; both being poor operators combining to an accident is also probably common.

Clearly, with year round riding in the warm states over the cold states (mostly, but not completely north and south) there will be more accidents with more miles and months ridden. 

I would also say your worst riding areas for accidents would be cities and urban over rural (regardless of the state) (higher population and traffic density). 

(Of course, IMHO, everything about cities and urban is worse than rural, other than getting more TV and radio stations, and more employment opportunity)

[phideux]

I also think that South Carolina and Florida are up top because they host major rallies in Urban areas, that skews the numbers a bit.

[Bighead]

Most MC accidents are due to equipment failure. IE bad tires or pressure or other easily taken care of things. Dont blame the cage although there are way to many fatalities due to cahe ignorance.

[Pete]

The top 10 states do seem to have longer riding seasons.

[3fan4life]

I'm surprised to see Mississippi at the top of the list.

I'm even more surprised to see that Mississippi has the least number of registered motorcycles of any US state.

I'm curious as to why that is.

[Moonshot_1]

Not seeing the value of this particular study. If it is to determine the most dangerous state to ride in, then it is flawed and badly so.

As has been stated, there are a number of variables for the statistics.

Urban vs. Rural
Length of riding season
Iconic Motorcycle events (Daytona, Sturgis, Inzane< Iconic so it makes the list)
Terrain - Mountains vs. Plains

As to what State has been the worst state to ride in?
To broad of a question to answer properly.

If experience is the basis of answer then it would be Iowa as I had a guy knock me and my daughter off the bike with a tractor.

But that isn't really indicative of Iowa. Just that day, at that time, at that place, in Iowa.

I think the question can be narrowed down to cities during the general riding season for the locations.

That for me would be Denver. 

[old2soon]

           I personally do Not like riding in urban areas larger than say Springfield Mo. I get especially puckerish riding/driving in the area my Brother resides. BUT-yup here come da BUT-stupid Will find folks ANYWHERE in this Fine Country of Ours. This observation from years in the high seat of an 18 wheeler.   Far as Riding goes my situational awareness increases a Lot when I am on Phatt Ghurl. Not that it diminishes when In my cage but Riding increases my senses.   I believe it fair to state everyone here at one time or another has had THAT Moment that while it did Not kill us it Did in Fact Really hack us off.  And statistics beg to be interpreted adjusted and in a lot of cases dismissed.   Easier said then done but leave yourself an out.     If I were to be buried anywhere but the Veterans Cemetery I'd have on my marker-Sorry Dude-I NEVER saw ya!  RIDE SAFE.

[RP#62]

I've never noticed that any one state is particularly worse than the other in this regard, you know, as far as just riding through.  The one trend I have noticed though is that more often than not, if I'm going to have a problem, it with the a-hole in the minivan.  I don't know what it is about minivans, but I avoid them at all cost.

-RP

[Jess from VA]

Yep, it was a minivan (driven by a particular unmentioned gender) that came closest to wiping me out than any other incident I can ever remember.

[Savago]

This other website has further data: https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/motorcycles-and-atvs

This 2 charts are quite interesting:
a) First shows deaths per age group.

b) Second shows deaths per engine size.

The data seems to point that the 2 most risky age groups are, respectively, < 29 years *and* > 50 years old.

My theory is that the first are basically squids that think that are invulnerable and the second older bikers that didn't improve their skills (i.e. using front brake is dangerous!) or don't use proper gear (i.e. HD riders dressed as pirates).

The engine displacement is also interesting. Generally sports bikes fit in the range of < 1000cc and big cruisers in the > 1400cc.

The in-between is generally reserved for the sports-touring market segment.

That is also a shift on the age groups, around 2005-2010, where the amount of fatalities in the > 50 years group passed the fatalities in the < 29 years group.

Speculation: maybe boomers retiring and starting to ride again?

[Savago]

Looking in the first chart I posted, there is an oddity in Texas.

It has a huge number of motorcycles registered near 364K (for reference California has 842K and Florida got 586K), doesn't have snow like the snow belt States, low risk of deer collision, supposedly well maintained roads.

But comes in 2th in the fatalities list.

Anyone got a theory for *why*?

[Savago]

Deer collision risk by state:

[Savago]

Another oddity: it is possible to compare 'year-long-riding' states (California x Florida) and see that there is something amiss in the later State, as the number of fatalities is about 60% higher.

[Savago]

Ohio is a nice surprise when it comes to registered motorcycles: 410,187!!!

That is right behind California and Florida, which got a year-long riding season.

My guess it has to do with a strong motorcycle culture and historical reasons. IIRC, Honda's plant was based in Marysville.
 

[Fazer]

Check out You Tube Motorcycle crashes or fails.  Not sure how representative these videos are but the overwhelming majority of incidents are the fault of the motorcyclist.  I am constantly surprised when in a particularly nasty crash, the rider seems to often times jump up.  Most seem to be in Europe or Russia

[Moonshot_1]

Check out You Tube Motorcycle crashes or fails.  Not sure how representative these videos are but the overwhelming majority of incidents are the fault of the motorcyclist.  I am constantly surprised when in a particularly nasty crash, the rider seems to often times jump up.  Most seem to be in Europe or Russia

I would bet that the videos are pretty much representative of reality that a majority of incidents are the fault of the motorcyclist.

Even when people do a left turn in front of you, if you are on the front brake immediately you stand a pretty good chance of going home.

Most of the time people are operating motorcycles in great weather and normal conditions and the odds of an incident occurring, for whatever reason, is slight.

Habits are developed riding in such an environment. Use of only back brake, not looking down range far enough, lack of attention.

These are the habits that get people killed when things are suddenly abnormal. It is rare that anyone practices responding to the abnormal.

I do.

I use my front brake almost exclusively. This is the brake I want when things go bad so this is the brake I use. Exceptions do apply. But generally I simply use the front brake.

I am constantly looking far down range.

But even I can be non attentive at times.

[Foozle]

If you control length of riding season, I wonder if there's any relationship with mandatory driver's education (for cages, that is)?

http://leg.wa.gov/JTC/Documents/Studies/Driver%20Education_Beth/SummaryStateTable.pdf

No dog in this fight - just ponderin'.

Terry

[Tx Bohemian]

Looking in the first chart I posted, there is an oddity in Texas.

It has a huge number of motorcycles registered near 364K (for reference California has 842K and Florida got 586K), doesn't have snow like the snow belt States, low risk of deer collision, supposedly well maintained roads.

But comes in 2th in the fatalities list.

Anyone got a theory for *why*?

Probably the "yankees" from the snow belt states coming to ride down here in the Greatest State causing it to go up!

Ok, just jerking y'alls yankees chains a bit!!

But that does bring up a question (maybe it was answered already and I missed it), Are the fatalities from the state where it happened, or riders visiting/riding through?

And, how do they figure the "risks" on the deer collision?
In the past 5 years I hit a deer and a hog coming and going to work! Luckily I was in my car both times.
I'd say I'm in a high risk area!

[Moonshot_1]

Interesting tidbit. Illinois and Iowa, the only 2 states with NO required helmet law are 30th and 43rd respectively in this study. "Conventional wisdom" would have these two states 1st and 2nd.

[Jess from VA]

I think this type of inquiry and discussion (regarding accidents/fatalities) is always relevant and useful.

But I see little use in state by state comparisons.

My first thought on MS being number one was that it was statistical more than factual.... hmmm, low population, study adjusted to reflect per capita incident rates, and year round riding.

Statistics are useful, but we all know the juggling can influence the outcome.

I got pulled over today for the first time in a very long time on my bike.  Bike cop.  He was concerned my tail lights were not very bright.  Officer, I have a high count LED array in my tail light, my signals (with red lenses) are run turn brake (always on), and I have a whole extra strip of brake lites only. Now admittedly, my led array is less than satisfactory in direct bright sunlight (which it was).  I went through all this, politely.  He said OK you're good and took off.  Later I'm seeing maximum LE presence everywhere.  I return to my bike shop hangout to discuss, and am told it is Fairfax County Police Week (maximum presence and enforcement).  Now I get it.

I'm taking the rest of the week off (from riding).   I don't intend to be a statistic.    

[3fan4life]

This other website has further data: https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/motorcycles-and-atvs

This 2 charts are quite interesting:
a) First shows deaths per age group.

b) Second shows deaths per engine size.

The data seems to point that the 2 most risky age groups are, respectively, < 29 years *and* > 50 years old.

My theory is that the first are basically squids that think that are invulnerable and the second older bikers that didn't improve their skills (i.e. using front brake is dangerous!) or don't use proper gear (i.e. HD riders dressed as pirates).

The engine displacement is also interesting. Generally sports bikes fit in the range of < 1000cc and big cruisers in the > 1400cc.

The in-between is generally reserved for the sports-touring market segment.

That is also a shift on the age groups, around 2005-2010, where the amount of fatalities in the > 50 years group passed the fatalities in the < 29 years group.

Speculation: maybe boomers retiring and starting to ride again?

If you think about it, the age group that was the highest in 1975 is likely the same riders that is in the highest group in 2005.

[Rams]

Check out You Tube Motorcycle crashes or fails.  Not sure how representative these videos are but the overwhelming majority of incidents are the fault of the motorcyclist.  I am constantly surprised when in a particularly nasty crash, the rider seems to often times jump up.  Most seem to be in Europe or Russia

I would bet that the videos are pretty much representative of reality that a majority of incidents are the fault of the motorcyclist.

Even when people do a left turn in front of you, if you are on the front brake immediately you stand a pretty good chance of going home.

Most of the time people are operating motorcycles in great weather and normal conditions and the odds of an incident occurring, for whatever reason, is slight.

Habits are developed riding in such an environment. Use of only back brake, not looking down range far enough, lack of attention.

These are the habits that get people killed when things are suddenly abnormal. It is rare that anyone practices responding to the abnormal.

I do.

I use my front brake almost exclusively. This is the brake I want when things go bad so this is the brake I use. Exceptions do apply. But generally I simply use the front brake.

I am constantly looking far down range.

But even I can be non attentive at times.

You left out being cognizant of yer six.   I assure you, they can get to you from the ass end.

Rams 

[RDKLL]

Most MC accidents are due to equipment failure. IE bad tires or pressure or other easily taken care of things. Dont blame the cage although there are way to many fatalities due to cahe ignorance.

Would you have the link to support your position...it just sounds like you are basing it on anecdotal evidence.
 

[scooperhsd]

In my experiance /watching the local news - the top reasons for motorcycle fatalities seem to be

1 - SQuids (i.e. age <29 and feeling invulnerable, usually on crotch rockets)
2. Motorcycle / larger vehicle accident (we don't usually get the best of these)
3. Rider going much faster than they should , for various reasons
4. Drunk / impaired / drugged driving (this does NOT have to be booze/illegal drugs - legal prescriptions can have the same effect). This can apply to both car and motorcycle drivers.
5 auto driver not paying attention (texting, etc.)
6 POOR roads / weather conditions

[Davemn]

I’m very proud of my home state in the top 5 (albeit a northern state). We continue to rank in the top of almost an metric.....education, health care, quality of life, graduation rates. SKOL!