How Dangerous Are Motorcycles?

The answer to the question “How dangerous are motorcycles?” lies in your confidence, skills, learning ability, and road sense. The answer to this question is usually different for different riders.

There are also people who have never ridden a motorcycle and still have this perception that motorcycles are dangerous. It is all about people's perception and what comes to mind when they see a motorcycle.

Before we decide whether motorcycles are dangerous or safe, we also need to look at statistics. However, we must not ignore what riders’ perceptions are. Continue reading this article to learn how dangerous motorcycles are.

• The possibility of getting into an accident is 30 times more on a motorcycle than on a car.

• The probability of dying in an accident is 28% more for a motorcyclist than a driver.

• In almost 80% of the motorcycle accidents that happen in the U.S., motorcyclists are reported to die or suffer an injury.

• The death or fatality rate of motorcyclists involved in accidents is higher than that of car occupants.

• Of all the road accident fatalities, almost 80% of them are motorcyclists, and the rest of the 20% are car occupants.

• On average, more than 100,000 motorcycle accidents occur in a year, and almost 5,000 riders die annually as a result of accidents.

• In most motorcycle accident fatalities, it was reported that riders involved in accidents were not wearing helmets.

If you compare it with cars, motorcycles are dangerous, particularly modern-day motorcycles, and the reasons are obvious.

• The modern-day motorcycles are very powerful, robust, and quick.

• They have a high power-to-weight ratio, meaning they have high horsepower and low weight.

• They are smaller than cars but have large and powerful engines, particularly those made for the U.S. market.

• They accelerate much quicker.

Modern motorcycles feature a dozen safety rider aids and high-tech features to keep riders safe and stable. However, compared to cars, they still lack many basic safety equipment. These include:

• Seatbelts

• Airbags

• A covered cage structures

• Four wheels

The major difference between cars and motorcycles is the number of wheels. Having four wheels makes cars more stable and balanced and provides more grip.

On the contrary, motorcycles have two wheels, which makes them less stable and balanced. Cars don’t need to be balanced. Meanwhile, if you are riding a motorcycle, you must always keep it balanced.

It is easier to keep the motorbike stable while riding at high speeds. However, it becomes challenging for most riders to keep the bike balanced at slow speeds.

Motorcycles have no cage-like structures, exposing riders to the environment.

First of all, it makes riding very challenging in extreme weather conditions. Whether it is a hot day, raining, or hailing, you may be unable to go out for a ride on a motorcycle.

Also, motorcyclists usually store their motorcycles in winter when it snows. It becomes impossible for riders to take the bike out of the garage when roads are covered with snow.

Riding in windy conditions is also quite risky. It can completely destabilize the bike while riding, causing motorcycle accidents.

The wind protection is another major problem. Most motorcycles are usually not designed to save riders from air drag. Most motorcycles are, therefore, unsuitable for riding on highways, open roads, and at high speeds.

When the air drag exceeds, riders lose control of their motorcycles. Also, the motorcycle can become unstable due to high drag. Installing a windshield can solve many problems and make rides more comfortable and smooth.

Braking on a motorcycle sometimes becomes nerve-wracking for most riders. It feels completely safe and stable to stop the bike at low speed. However, stopping a motorcycle in an emergency while riding at high speeds is challenging.

There is a high chance that the rider will lose control of the bike. The motorcycle can skid during hard braking due to the abrupt change in traction.

Nose diving is among the most prevalent issues if you have to apply front brakes in an emergency. Motorcycle brakes are designed to stop them gradually. You need to slow down first and then apply both brakes gently to avoid losing control of the bike.

Motorcycles are small and are less visible to cars and other large vehicles. Riders must be very careful of car drivers while riding on the road. Sharing a road with large vehicles sometimes becomes very dangerous.

Most cruisers and touring motorcycles are pretty large and bulky. However, they are still smaller compared to cars and trucks. Motorcycles are also prone to get in the blind spots of cars and heavy vehicle drivers.

Riders must be extra careful of cars and heavyweight vehicles, particularly when driving fast. You must also stay very alert at intersections or while taking turns.

Surviving a pothole, obstacle, and critters while driving is still safe. You may get your car damaged if you hit a critter. However, it is not life-threatening due to the presence of seatbelts and airbags.

On the other hand, potholes, obstacles, and critters on roads can be life-threatening for motorcyclists. Firstly, you are expected to avoid them as much as possible. You must learn to swerve on a motorcycle to stay safe from such obstacles.

You will have to change the lane abruptly, which puts your life and safety at greater risk. You will also need to learn to overcome obstacles by riding over them.

You may overcome a pothole or other bumps and obstacles easily if you are a trained or experienced rider. However, surviving hitting a critter on a road, especially when you are going at a high speed, is very difficult.

Most motorcyclists agree that motorcycles are more dangerous than cars for the abovementioned reasons. However, it is not justified to say that they are very dangerous and that everyone should drive cars instead of motorcycles.

It is unjustified to say motorcycles should be blamed for most motorcycle accidents. It majorly depends on who is operating it. As riders, we must decide by choosing the right motorcycle and riding safely. Accidents will happen if we operate a motorcycle in a manner above our limits and capabilities.

The danger of motorcycles also depends on several other factors. Let’s list down the factors that play a crucial role in making your motorcycling experience either safe or dangerous:

• Confidence

• Perception

• Skill level

• Experience level

• What motorcycle do you ride?

Your confidence while riding a motorcycle greatly makes your ride experience safer. Being a beginner, if you are nervous or shaky, there are better chances that you will make a mistake while riding.

Your body will react the way you perceive it. If you consider motorcycling unsafe or dangerous, you may not be able to pay attention to the road and traffic. You may also be unable to make the right decisions while riding a motorcycle.

The more skills you have, the safer you will be while riding a motorcycle. You will not be worried at all about motorcycling. Instead, you will focus more on enjoying the ride.

On the other hand, if you don’t have the right skills, you will be unsure how to react in a certain situation while riding.

Riding a motorcycle is not all about going in a straight line, opening the throttle, and shifting gears. There is so much more to it. You must learn cornering, leaning the bike, counter steering, swerving, and over-taking.

The more time you have spent on a motorcycle, the more aware you are of every possible scenario that can arise while riding a motorcycle. Experience always makes you safer on the road. You have better road sense. Your muscle memory is also developed, playing a crucial role in safe riding.

Your judgments are also very precise. Experienced riders not only know how to ride safely, but they can also accurately predict the moves of other road users.

Your safety on the roads also depends on what motorcycle you ride. Some motorcycles, with aggressive builds and sportier riding styles, are designed for quicker rides.

Also, if you ride a heavier and faster motorcycle than you can handle and manage, you are compromising your safety. If you are a beginner, go for a beginner ride. If you must travel within the city, buy a standard bike or roadster.

If you want to go on longer rides, buy a cruiser or a touring bike. Before investing in a motorcycle, consider your skills, experience, and purpose.

Motorcycle riding is safer if you follow traffic laws and wear appropriate safety riding gear. If you want to make motorcycling safer, set the rules for yourself.

• Stay within your limits.

• Do not go above the speed limit.

• Always consider your motorcycle riding experience and skill level.

• Choose a motorcycle that suits your riding skills.

• Follow all traffic rules and safety measurements.

• Follow the traffic signal and signboards.

• Wear appropriate motorcycle safety gear, including a DOT-approved helmet, jacket, pants, motorcycle boots, and gloves.

• Stay in your lane.

• Ride defensively.

• Do not drink and ride.

• Enroll in a safety motorcycle course.

• Learn and practice important riding skills.

• Always practice in an empty parking lot.

• Do not ride if you are underage and don’t have a license.

• Develop the road sense.

• Observe how traffic works.

• Improve your cognitive skills.

• Work on your reflexes.

• Pay attention while riding a motorcycle.

• You need to have a strong mind and an active body.

• Avoid riding at high speeds.

• Don’t be a “Motorcycle Squid.”

Motorcycles are among the very popular and fun modes of transport. It is a great experience for both your body and soul. Most riders associate motorcycling riding with freedom. It has a good impact on both your physical and mental health.

Motorcycles are completely worth the risk if you know the safety rules. If you know how to be safe and stay within your limits, it is the best experience you can ever have.

As already discussed, motorcycle accident statistics show that more than 100,000 motorcycle accidents occur almost every year. Out of these accidents, almost 5,000 motorcyclists die. This means that only 5% of motorcyclists die per year, and 95% survive. However, they do go through several severe injuries and mental traumas.

According to many surveys, the most dangerous time to ride a motorcycle is on weekdays, between 3 pm to 6 pm. This is the time when the traffic on roads is maximum. The roads are busy, and almost every rider and driver is in a hurry to reach their destinations as early as possible, increasing the risk of accidents.

According to statistics, most motorcycle accidents usually occur at high speeds. As per the estimate, most fatal motorcycle accidents are reported to have occurred at a speed of over 55 mph.

Therefore, riding slowly and defensively while wearing adequate safety gear is better.

The major disadvantage of motorcycles is that they are open and have no cage-like structures compared to cars. Even if the rider is wearing full protective riding gear and following all the rules, motorcycle accidents can still cause severe injuries. The lack of airbags and seatbelts makes motorcycling riskier than driving cars.

Motorcycles aren’t inherently dangerous. However, the large-displacement engines, top-end power figures, and superfast acceleration can make riding riskier, particularly for those not used to managing a powerful bike.

Over the years, motorcycle engineers have tried making modern-day motorcycles safer and advanced. Today’s motorcycles feature many safety rider aids to make rides more stable, balanced, and safe.

How dangerous are motorcycles? It usually depends on riders, their riding behavior, and their choices. The number of motorcycle accidents can drop substantially if riders follow all the traffic rules, wear proper riding gear, and choose the right motorcycle.

Riding a low-displacement motorcycle is a wise choice. Also, it is much safer to ride slowly and defensively. Riders and all road users must adopt a safer and more cautious riding style.