Traffic Safety Facts 2007 Data

DOT HS 810 990

Motorcycles “NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,784 motorcyclists’ lives in 2007, and that 800 more could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.”

NHTSA has recently redefined their motorcycle terminology. The following terms will be used to define motorcycle occupants: a motorcycle rider is the operator only; a passenger is any person seated on the motorcycle but not in control of the motorcycle; and any combined reference to the “motorcycle rider” (operator) as well as the “passenger” will be referred to as motorcyclists. Prior NHTSA publications may not reflect this terminology. In 2007, 5,154 motorcyclists were killed—an increase of 7 percent over the 4,837 motorcyclists killed in 2006. There were 103,000 motorcyclists injured during 2007. Table 1

Motorcyclist Fatalities, Injuries, and Fatality and Injury Rates, 1997–2007 Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Fatalities 2,116 2,294 2,483 2,897 3,197 3,270 3,714 4,028 4,576 4,837 5,154

Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Injuries 53,000 49,000 50,000 58,000 60,000 65,000 67,000 76,000 87,000 88,000 103,000

Registered Vehicles 3,826,373 3,879,450 4,152,433 4,346,068 4,903,056 5,004,156 5,370,035 5,767,934 6,227,146 6,686,147 – Registered Vehicles 3,826,373 3,879,450 4,152,433 4,346,068 4,903,056 5,004,156 5,370,035 5,767,934 6,227,146 6,686,147 –

Fatality Rate* 55.30 59.13 59.80 66.66 65.20 65.35 69.16 69.83 73.48 72.34 – Injury Rate* 1,374 1,262 1,204 1,328 1,229 1,293 1,250 1,324 1,402 1,311 –

Vehicle Miles Traveled (millions) 10,081 10,283 10,584 10,469 9,639 9,552 9,577 10,122 10,454 12,401 – Vehicle Miles Traveled (millions) 10,081 10,283 10,584 10,469 9,639 9,552 9,577 10,122 10,454 12,401 –

Fatality Rate** 20.99 22.31 23.46 27.67 33.17 34.23 38.78 39.79 43.77 39.00 – Injury Rate** 522 476 472 551 625 677 701 755 835 707 –

*Rate per 100,000 registered vehicles **Rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled – = not available. Source: Vehicle miles traveled and registered vehicles—Federal Highway Administration Traffic deaths—Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), NHTSA Traffic injuries—General Estimates System (GES), NHTSA

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Table 

Motorcycle Rider Fatalities by State, Helmet Use, and BAC, 2007 State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Dist of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming National Puerto Rico

Total Motorcycle Riders Killed Number 80 6 127 76 495 84 36 15 2 530 156 25 26 142 113 54 41 105 78 18 88 59 120 58 47 84 33 13 48 23 79 49 158 195 6 178 67 47 210 13 119 24 144 375 29 7 126 65 38 104 18 4,833 83

Helmeted Percent 91% 100% 44% 38% 86% 38% 36% 36% 50% 52% 88% 24% 35% 19% 20% 9% 28% 37% 76% 33% 90% 95% 90% 21% 64% 79% 47% 69% 88% 43% 83% 18% 85% 93% 17% 35% 30% 93% 46% 25% 26% 21% 87% 40% 50% 71% 91% 85% 83% 23% 44% 59% 33%

Not Helmeted Percent 9% 0% 56% 62% 14% 62% 64% 64% 50% 48% 12% 76% 65% 81% 80% 91% 73% 63% 24% 67% 10% 5% 10% 79% 36% 21% 53% 31% 13% 57% 17% 82% 15% 7% 83% 65% 70% 7% 54% 75% 74% 79% 13% 60% 50% 29% 9% 15% 17% 77% 56% 41% 67%

Impaired Motorcycle Riders Killed (BAC=.08+) Percent 19% 30% 22% 23% 24% 30% 23% 21% 50% 25% 18% 29% 24% 38% 33% 28% 21% 25% 31% 25% 23% 34% 22% 26% 29% 31% 27% 46% 26% 13% 28% 41% 26% 26% 20% 29% 29% 28% 34% 58% 40% 18% 27% 39% 10% 14% 29% 35% 24% 35% 28% 28% 32%

BAC=.01+ Percent 25% 35% 30% 36% 30% 37% 35% 38% 100% 32% 25% 45% 30% 46% 39% 32% 30% 28% 40% 26% 30% 46% 28% 34% 35% 38% 30% 62% 39% 27% 36% 49% 36% 33% 40% 36% 31% 39% 43% 72% 47% 31% 34% 46% 14% 29% 39% 45% 33% 47% 32% 36% 43%

Note: Percent Helmeted based on fatalities with known helmet use.

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



An estimated 142,000 motorcyclists have died in traffic crashes since the enactment of the Highway Safety and National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966. Motorcycles made up nearly 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States in 2006 and accounted for only 0.4 percent of all vehicle miles traveled. Per vehicle mile traveled in 2006, motorcyclists were about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 8 times more likely to be injured. Table 

Occupant Fatality Rates by Vehicle Type, 1996 and 2006 Fatality Rate 1996

2006

Percent Change, 1996–2006

Motorcycles

Passenger Cars

Per 100,000 Registered Vehicles

55.82

18.06

15.18

Per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

21.78

1.50

1.26

Per 100,000 Registered Vehicles

72.34

13.10

12.99

Per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

39.00

1.11

1.10

Per 100,000 Registered Vehicles

29.61

-27.48

-14.41

Per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

79.05

-26.00

-12.66

“Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic crash.”

Light Trucks

Note: 2007 registered vehicle and vehicle miles traveled data not available.

Per registered vehicle, the fatality rate for motorcyclists in 2006 was 5.5 times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants. The injury rate for motorcyclists was 1.2 times the injury rate for passenger car occupants. In 2007, motorcyclists accounted for 13 percent of total traffic fatalities, 14 percent of all occupant fatalities, and 4 percent of all occupants injured.

Motorcycle Involvement in Crashes In 2007, 2,641 (50%) of all motorcycles involved in fatal crashes collided with another type of motor vehicle in transport. In two-vehicle crashes, 78 percent of the motorcycles involved were struck in the front. Only 5 percent were struck in the rear. Motorcycles are more likely to be involved in a fatal collision with a fixed object than are other vehicles. In 2007, 25 percent of the motorcycles involved in fatal crashes collided with fixed objects, compared to 18 percent for passenger cars, 13 percent for light trucks, and 3 percent for large trucks. In 2007, there were 2,332 two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a motorcycle and another type of vehicle. In 40 percent (939) of these crashes the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking the vehicle. Both vehicles were going straight in 632 crashes (27%).

NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



“One out of four motorcycle riders in fatal crashes in 2007 were riding their vehicles with an invalid license.”

NHTSA considers a crash to be speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense or if an officer indicated that racing, driving too fast for conditions, or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in the crash. In 2007, 36 percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to 24 percent for passenger car drivers, 19 percent for light-truck drivers, and 8 percent for large-truck drivers. Table 

Motorcyclist Fatalities by Age Group, 1997 and 2007 Age Group Year 1997 2007