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Motorcycle fatalities jump 87 percent in Virginia
The Virginia State Police is hoping education and increased awareness will curb a dramatic jump in motorcycle-related fatalities over the past few years. The commonwealth experienced an 87 percent jump in motorcycle fatalities in 2007, according to the most recent figures from the VSP. As a result, the VSP launched its “Ride Smart, Arrive Alive” program to help curb the rise in fatalities. The program consists of three objectives — education, enforcement and roadway management. The program’s education element is designed to counteract motorcyclist behavior that contributes to fatal crashes through public awareness campaigns and safety presentations. The second objective of the program seeks to reduce motorcycle fatalities through stricter enforcement by focusing on motorcyclists who are involved in activities such as DUI, reckless driving, riding without a motorcycle endorsement, and equipment violations. The program’s final objective, roadway management, is designed to evaluate the potential impact of roadway designs, signage or other elements that could assist in the reduction of crashes involving motorcyclists. Area commanders or a designee will review all motorcycle fatality accident reports and determine if the roadway was a causative factor in the crash. If a pattern is detected, those roadways could be identified as directed patrol locations. Commanders will also be encouraged to discuss road design and maintenance conditions that pose hazards to motorcycle operations with their respective resident engineers during liaison visits. Along with the rise in fatalities, statistics also show that nearly 70 percent of motorcycle-related accidents are the fault of the motorcycle’s operator. For each mile traveled, motorcyclists are 16 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a traffic crash and are about four times more likely to be injured. Only 20 percent of car crashes result in injury or death, but that figure jumps to 80 percent for motorcycle crashes. Statistics from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation show that 24 percent of those fatal crashes involve unlicensed motorcyclists. The VSP estimates 20 percent — roughly 62,000 — of Virginia’s motorcyclists are unlicensed. More information on motorcycle safety can be found at www.mscv.org/ or www.learn2ride.com/.
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The statistics cited in this article are skewed and misleading. The 70% of motorcycle-related accidents which are the fault of the motorcycle’s operator are single vehicle accidents,and that statistic is approximately the same for passenger vehicles.
According to the Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures Study conducted by H.H. Hurt, approximately three-fourths of fatal motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most often a passenger automobile. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.
Nowhere in the VSP program's three objectives (education, enforcement and roadway management) do I see anything about vehicle driver education in Motorcycle Awareness. Here in Texas we recently passed legislation that makes a section on motorcycle safety and awareness mandatory in all Driver Education courses.
this illogical approach to prevention of motorcycle fatalities proves that Virginia is just as backward as it has always been.
The problem I see here is that virginia has always been under the assumption that helmets are the endall for motorcycle safety and relied on them to keep the fatality rate down. Well that hasn't work out now has it. The rise is due to education and awareness not being the Motorcycle safety program of choice in Virginia. Now you have to play catch up to make up for the lost years wasted on helmets as the only safety program.
Helmets give that 20 year old on a crotch rocket a false sense of security. They have been told that if they wear a helmet they are a safe motorcycle rider. If you make helmets optional the death rate goes down. People drive slower and more cautious without a helmet. If virginia had really focused on education and awareness this would not have been such a large increase even with the large number of new bikers on the road.
RE : Peter Stevenson
While I don't have any scientific data, I would guess that the increase of amateur operated Motorcycles on the roadways has a lot to do with the increase in cycle accidents.
RE: Chuck Riley
I agree wholeheartedly
I agree most motorcycle accidents are due to cars not looking out for them. But I also think anyone who rides should have to take the MSF course to get their M endorsement.
Is this the result of many inexperienced people moving to bikes instead of driving cars on account of gas prices?
I know that many accidents that involve cars and motorcycles are the result of the cars' operators not paying close enough attention to the presence of the motorcycle, but I have a bone to pick with some motorcyclist. I can't count how many times I have checked my mirrors before making a lane change and saw a cycle in the next lane several car lengths behind me, only to have the operator of that bike accelerate at such a rate that I nearly hit him/her as I make my lane change. Cyclists need to understand that when they get the urge to twist the throttle they can accelerate and a far greater rate than most people can react to avoid an incident. We are not responsible for keeping you safe from yourself. please refrain from rapid acceleration and high performance maneuvers while on the roadways.
Having just done an article about safety tips for car, truck and bus drivers I think the statement "70% of motorcycle related accidents are the motorcyclists fault" should read 70% of motorcycle related accidents AREN"T the motorcyclists fault.
Let's see 2007, gas prices going up, new people buying motorcycles to save money, inexperienced riders on the road. More accidents, co-incidence? i think not.
87%? Holy smokes..! I wonder what the leading cause of these motorcycle accidents that make up the 70% that are the cyclist's fault.... I'm thinking speeding...? Some idiot flying down the road at 40mph over the posted speed (if not more) on their crotch rockets is a recipe for disaster, licensed or not. Having riden several flavors of these bikes, I know just how easy and tempting it is to open'em up...... Big bikes like HD's and the like make me want to sit back and take my time riding to get to where ever it is I'm going.