Real accident or rider error, percentage?

[CanadianFZ6]

So many threads are popping up around here of young guys chucking their bikes down the road... Always the same excuse "it wasn't my fault... guy pulled out in front of me" or "loose gravel/debris in a blind corner"... The question is, if it wasn't your fault then old guys like me must have the GODs on our side, because we don't seem to crash anywhere near as much as you young guys do. So I ask you this... what percentage do you guys feel (in your opinion) is rider error/judgement or "real accident" the likely cause of a bike wreck? I say.... 90% rider error versus 10% real accident (e.g. a deer running in front of you).

[klouseau]

The stats are already out there. 90% of motorcycle accidents are motorcycle drive error. 10% are other drivers. Taken right from the MSF course.

[Magseal]

even an accident from a deer running out in front of you is preventable.

[klouseau]

Here's a summary of NHTSA DOT HS 809 360:

Single vehicle motorcycle crashes account for about 45 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities. More than 38,000 motorcyclists have died in single vehicle motorcycle crashes between 1975 and 1999. The report claims to provide data for insight into possible causes for these fatalities. According to the report, from 1990 through 1999, there were a total of 11,038 fatal single vehicle motorcycle crashes. During that same time period, there were an estimated 294,000 non-fatal single vehicle motorcycle crashes. Of these, an estimated 39,000 involved property damage only and 255,000 involved injuries. Motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes decreased each year from 1990 to 1996, reaching a historic low of 937 in 1996 and again in 1997. In 1998, the fatalities increased to 1,042 (11.2 percent increase); in 1998 and in 1999 they increased to 1,140 (9.4 percent). The overall increase in motorcyclist fatalities from 1997 to 1999 was 203 (21.7 percent).

Report Conclusions: Findings from the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) data illustrate possible reasons for motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes:

* Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent
* More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural roads
* High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators
* Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash
* Over 80 percent of the fatalities occur off roadway
* Undivided roadways account for a majority of the fatalities
* Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash
* Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night
* Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities
* Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities
* More riders age 40 and over are getting killed
* Almost one third of the fatally injured operators did not have a proper license

1998 Motorcycle Facts:

* 2,284 motorcyclists died and approximately 49,000 were injured in highway crashes in the United States.
* Per mile traveled in 1998, a motorcyclist is approximately 16 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant. And 3x (times) as likely to be injured.
* Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes.
* In 1998, 46% of fatally injured motorcycle drivers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
* NHTSA estimates that motorcycle helmets reduce the likelihood of a fatality by 29% in a crash.
* In 1998, 41% of all motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
* Nearly one out of five motorcycle drivers (18%) involved in fatal crashes in 1998 was operating with an invalid license at the time of the collision.
* Motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 1998 had higher intoxication rates than any other type of motor vehicle driver at 31%.
* In 1998, 500 motorcyclists lives were saved due to helmet usage; 307 could have been saved.

[rasmar]

from what i see here in squid central, i'd put it like 75% in the riders hands because hes a retard and doing 100mph on a highway weaving in and out of traffic and in some cases in the emergency lane or on one wheel.

We have a LOT of 20 year olds here riding like they own the street. Combine that with a LOT of rice burning road racers, old people who should have stopped driving 15 years ago, people on cell phones and probably the highest concentration of red light runners anywhere just adds up to bad news.

I hate riding in Orlando

[rgatling]

Sad but true. I sell moto gear and believe in wearing it, but I repeatedly tell new riders it's their skills and some sense that are priority #1.

[chas4fz]

Its that "Chain Theory" they teach in MSF: every choice you make has an effect on the outcome of your ride.

A lot of threads are about really outrageous rider errors, like deciding to ride fast or recklessly on purpose, but I think it takes away from an important lesson we all can learn - that even riding within the law requires a LOT of skill and good judgement. And to make it home day after day, mile after mile isn't just luck.

[JohnO]

Originally Posted by klouseau

* Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent

Why couldn't they give the actual percentage? Below 50% could be 49.99 and lower.

Originally Posted by klouseau

* Over 80 percent of the fatalities occur off roadway

What does this mean? They ran off the road and died?

Originally Posted by klouseau

* Undivided roadways account for a majority of the fatalities
* Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash

I agree here. People drift over the center line and... WHACK! Speeding is really too fast for the conditions - not just over the speed limit. Very easy for riders to do and especially young ones when riding with friends.

Originally Posted by klouseau

* More riders age 40 and over are getting killed

I have noticed I am not as quick as I used to be or as alert at times now that I'm 50. A lot of people (such as me) get back into motorcycling (I won't call this a sport) after 20 or 30 years off. While it feels natural to start riding again, you have to realize your reflexes aren't what they used to be and bikes are a lot more powerful and/or heavier.

Overall this is good info although some of it is a bit vague. Thanks for posting.

[maste]

Originally Posted by Magseal

even an accident from a deer running out in front of you is preventable.

Really??? It's comforting to know that at least one person around here is invincible.

Reason I say that is my best friend hit a deer when doing about 60mph, he never had a chance to react, all he saw was a blur and then impact. He survived but got beat up pretty bad. I guess your response would be "he shouldn't have been riding at that spot at that time"

[wavex]

Imo, most accidents are due to the rider's lack of skills, concentration, stupidity....etc.. but I am not sure involving the "old" vs "young" makes much sense since in the past 10 years, the trend shows that fatalities in the 20-29 age group decreased while it increased in the 40+ age group...

On the good side, the motorcycle fatality rate per 100k registered vehicles today is still lower than it was in the 80's...

[DefyInertia]

Well, age is only a number.

When I went down, I originally thought that "a better rider probably could have saved it". Now that I have more experience and am a much better, more knowledgeable rider, I know I got myself in over my head, period.

In hindsight, considering the fact that I didn't hurt anyone else and that it didn't cost me much (I did get hurt pretty bad though), I'm glad I went down when I did. I learned a lot from it.

http://forums.sportbikes.net/forums/...d.php?t=322599

[silverbullet]

Originally Posted by maste

Really??? It's comforting to know that at least one person around here is invincible.

Reason I say that is my best friend hit a deer when doing about 60mph, he never had a chance to react, all he saw was a blur and then impact. He survived but got beat up pretty bad. I guess your response would be "he shouldn't have been riding at that spot at that time"

You pretty much nailed it. If you're riding in an area where its quite possible that there are deer then it would be advised to slow down.

maste isn't invincible, thats the guy who thinks that bealting around at 60 thinking it'll never happen to me.

[wavex]

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

Well, age is only a number.

When I went down, I originally thought that "a better rider probably could have saved it". Now that I have more experience and am a much better, more knowledgeable rider, I know I got myself in over my head, period.

In hindsight, considering the fact that I didn't hurt anyone else and that it didn't cost me much (I did get hurt pretty bad though), I'm glad I went down when I did. I learned a lot from it.

http://forums.sportbikes.net/forums/...d.php?t=322599

Damn bro I just read the whole story about your accident... glad you made it out with "just" the leg problem. That turn looked evil! Your FZ did not seem to have much damage at all... a new left turn signal, side pod cover and a new slider took care of it?

[Khyren]

I will second what defyinertia said. After I got in my accident it changed my outlook on everything that I do on the bike from straits to corners or even changing lanes. I bought one of the suggested books to read and have been practicing in parking lots when I can and I feel ALOT more at home on the bike but I'm not superman. I also gained a much better way of looking at situations and how to handle them. Just went on a 100+ mile run for a charity and there was one road where I was slowing down to keep within my level of skill and to hell with keeping up with the pack as I was the rear rider. They never really got out of sight but I wasn't right behind them either. Maybe next year I can carve it up with them.

Khyren

[Snowflare]

Originally Posted by klouseau

The stats are already out there. 90% of motorcycle accidents are motorcycle drive error. 10% are other drivers. Taken right from the MSF course.

That's odd, I recently read an article stating that the finding of the hurt report are not significantly different than current data:
- In single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slideout and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.
- In multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.

809 360 was from 2001 (1999 data) here's some from 810 606 published in 2006 (2004 data)

Motorcycle Rider Fatalities as Percent by Age Group (2004)
Age Group:<20  20-29  30-39  40-49  50-59  >59
Percent:  6.2  26.0   21.7   24.2   16.1   5.7

Mean Age of Motorcycle Rider Killed - 38
Mean Engine Displacement Involved in Fatal Crash - 1015cc
Speeding - 37%
Not Speeding - 63%
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd...006/810606.pdf

Originally Posted by CanadianFZ6

...old guys like me must have the GODs on our side, because we don't seem to crash anywhere near as much as you young guys do.

Nope, you do. You old guys just focus on us too much. Maybe cause we don't get off your lawn. Actually I really think that you are more likely to see reports of younger riders' crashes as they are more likely to be posting that information here in the first place, we also show up more in the news because a 20 something is more sensational than some old guy.