I often get asked about how I can ride one of those "death traps" or some other such nonsensical question concerning my scooter. I thought it would be interesting to look at actual statistics about car accidents verses motorcycle accidents and compare.

A cursory search of the internet led me to 2 sites that had data for the same year for each. 2005 is the year I chose to compare because it is the nearest year I could find statistics on both types of vehicles.

I looked both at http://www.car-accidents.com/pages/stats.html and at http://www.edgarsnyder.com/motorcycle-accident/statistics.html

"Car Crash Stats: There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes."

" In 2005, 4,553 people died in motorcycle crashes, an increase of 13% from 4,028 in 2004. "

42,636 people died in cars and 4553 on motorcycles. Huh. Listen to this: More people died AS PEDESTRIANS in 2005 than as motorcyclists! 4881 people died in auto accidents as a pedestrian. ( http://www.car-accidents.com/pages/fatal-accident-statistics.html )


I got one question to ask the people driving their cage: How can you stand to ride in that death trap?


Interesting side note discussion that I discovered in the motorcycle accident statistics: "1,546 lives were saved by helmets in 2005. If all states required helmets, an additional 728 more lives would have been saved. " That's a total of 2274 that were saved by helmets or could have been saved. 4553 people died. What about the other 2279? could they not have been saved by helmets? I get preached to about helmets or not all the time but geez louise. Only Half of the fatalities could be stopped by helmets? Or maybe I'm looking at this all wrong. 4553-728=3725. Perhaps that's the number of people who had motorcycle accidents who WOULD HAVE DIED ANYWAY even though they were wearing a helmet.

Just food for thought

I look at percentiles rather than raw numbers. There are more accidents in 4 wheelers per capita than on motorcycles per capita. The reason is everyone and their brother drives cars. Not everyone rides motorcycles. The ones who do are usually better operators because they know they don't have the protection that cagers do. All that protection that a car gives you is good, but it can be over-confidence making as well.

I am never over confident on a bike, whether it be a 'leg over" or a "step through". I'd be willing to wager that not many other motorcyclists are either.

Although I'm sure there are a few.

Statistics don't lie - true statement.

However, they can be manipulated and interpreted to support an agenda - and usually are. Hardcore Rider is all over the reason for the perceived disparity - The sheer number of car drivers.

I fully understand that per mile driven that the number of motorcycle fatalities would probably be higher than cars, but I thought it was very interesting that regardless of the percentage, more people died walking down the street minding their own business than died riding a motorcycle.

I posted this in several forums just to spark some conversation and one guy said "if nothing else kills you an airplane will fall out of the sky on you." I find that to be a very good way of looking at things. You're going to die of SOMETHING so stop worrying about it.

And honestly I thought the number of motorcycle fatalities would have been more like 35-40% of those in a car, not 10%. When someone says something to me about the unsafeness of my actions I at least have some ammunition now to refute their wild claims of motorcycle fatalities.

You think that more people dying in car accidents than motorcycle accidents is a meaningful statistic?

It's a fact that riding a motorized cycle is dangerous, but lots of things are dangerous. Smoking is dangerous. Eating unhealthy food is dangerous. As you say, walking down the street is dangerous.

Life is short. If you live in fear you waste most of it.

Another statistic to consider is how many of the people who died while riding a motorcycle were killed by some distracted *%$#!! who was driving their car and not paying attention??

You have heard it said, "figures don't lie but liers can sure figure." I have ridden two wheeled vehicles most of my life, flew airplanes (commercial), driven autos, walk in an upright position etc. I agree with DuggleBogey, "life is short, if you live in fear you waste most of it." Now that is not to say we are to tempt faith...In all of these things, we need to use all of what God has given us to use. I have had close calls all of my life and so have you I am sure. I lost my son in a motor cycle accident seven years ago. Before he left to go to "Arizona Bike Week," he told his mother, "When it is my time to go, I will go...I'm ready." I think that is the key. We aren't here in this physical body forever. My wife does not like for me to ride and has made that loud and clear. I don't ride to chide, but like my son said, "when it is my time to go, however it happens, I'm ready."
All I can ask is God have mercy!
Old Dave in Western Nebraska

I have to agree with the above sentiments. Yes. Walking down the street is dangerous. Life itself is dangerous. Somethings are more dangerous than others and according to statistics, walking down the street is more dangerous than riding a motorcycle. I'm not being facetious, I'm just reporting what the statistics say.

I saw a quote once. Can't find out definitely who said it but it describes my feelings. "There are three types of lies. Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics."

It doesn't matter what you are doing, no one gets out alive. Like the others have said, when it's my time, it's my time, whether it's from a motorcycle accident or an airplane falling on me. I'm just as dead, so why worry about it? I live my life trying to be the best person I can and I refuse to live my life in fear of what might happen. You do that and you may as well be dead.