Encouraging news for once

[TC]

A new set of accident stats are out for the current year date, and I have to say that it looks quite encouraging. However, whilst any death is one too many, at least in general terms we are showing a downward trend.

Serious injuries of riders and passengers fell slightly, but the number of deaths unfortunately rose by 5%. (Though fatalities are 13% lower than they were in 2003) However, the new casualty figures are set against a backdrop of motorcycle use rising by a third since the 1990s and a powered two wheeler market that has risen by 60% over the same period. This means that the relative chance of being involved in an accident on a motorcycle continues to fall.

The new statistics also reveal that 82% of motorcycle crashes and 75% of rider fatalities involve another vehicle, but other vehicle drivers colliding with motorcycles are about twice as likely as the rider to have failed to look properly. Indeed, statistics indicate that motorcyclists are the most vigilant of all road users but suffer from the carelessness of others.

In addition, the traditional road safety stereotypes about riders do not appear to be reflected in the casualty figures - just 4% of riders are recorded as having crashed while exceeding the speed limit. Where riders lose control of their bike, the condition of the road itself appears to be a key factor.

[D-Rider]

Thanks TC - good info and great to see things moving in the right direction (although that will probably be twisted into some vindication of Speed cameras and traffic aggravating (sorry speed calming) measures) ... if anyone ever gets beyond the net overall rise in fatalities and understands it in context.

Just out of interest, should these figures ever need quoting, what was their source?

Cheers

[BikerGran]

Good to hear but I wonder how the figures will be used, which makes all the difference with statistics!

are 13% lower than they were in 2003) However, the new casualty figures are set against a backdrop of motorcycle use rising by a third since the 1990s and a powered two wheeler market that has risen by 60% over the same period. This means that the relative chance of being involved in an accident on a motorcycle continues to fall.

Is there any way the figures can be compared, ie % number of injuries/deaths per no of kmotorcycles in earlier year as against same figure for the latest year? It would be interesting as from what you are saying there is a considerable fall in real terms.

[Samray]

Good to read but I have a feeling Norfolk may be bucking the trend.
Decades behind the times as ever, we seem to read of a fatality almost/at least weekly.

[TC]

Just out of interest, should these figures ever need quoting, what was their source?

Department of Transport

They were provided alongside the launch of the new Highway Code, I imagine in the hope that they would get missed or forgotten with all the interest being on the HC

[paddyz1]

It would be interesting to know if any of the car drivers that were involved in a collision with a motorcycle actually ride a bike.
I am sure if the statistics were to show this, there would be a high percentage of non riders involved.

I have, and always will say, that you make a much better car driver out of a biker.

[HowardQ]

Very good information, as always TC, but I must seriously question one of the comments about the 30% increase in bike use.
That is massively wrong! There may only be a 30% increase in the number of registered bikes, but the increased number of bikes regularly using the road in the last 4 or 5 years most be at least 300% and probably nearer 500%. You do not need to go very far to see evidence of this, and this alone makes a mockery of the recent government stats regarding bike accidents, which in real terms must be well down.
There are so many more bikes using the road now, it's absolutely obvious to everybody. One of the very big differences is the number of riders who used to just use their bikes for pleasure and only did 2 or 3 thousand miles a year, who now use them to commute as well, many over long distances. I regularly see Dukes, Blades, R1s, Gixxers and even Aprilias on the daily commute, even in bad weather, whereas 5 years ago you saw very few.
Even on regular bike runs at the weekend, you see so may more bikes out now and then there are the number of "kids" out on scoooters, which again seems to have massively increased.
One real benefit of this is the awareness of most car drivers, who seem pull over instantly to let bikes through, (even when you don't always want to overtake at that time!). It's still great news as you know they've seen you. Five years ago many motorists seemed to pull into the road centre to stop you coming through.

[TC]

Very good information, as always TC, but I must seriously question one of the comments about the 30% increase in bike use.
That is massively wrong! There may only be a 30% increase in the number of registered bikes,

You may well be right regarding the figures and I am certainly in no position to argue as I simply quoted the DfT.

It may well be that they have lumped all PTW together and classed them as motorcyclists (I may be wrong) which could possibly account for this figure of 30%

[HowardQ]

Probably just me, I always get wound up be government statistics,(or is it propaganda, never can tell the difference). It's just that over recent years the "government" in one form or another have being making comments about motorcycle deaths still increasing and considering things like speed limiters etc., when anyone using the roads can easily see that there are so many more bikes on the road at all times of the day, in our area it is possibly as high as 500% and when increased casualties are talked of the extra use has to come into consideration. In my own area of South Yorkshire I used to see 2 or 3 bikes a week commuting, now I see dozens every day. The fact that more bikers are on the commuter run makes them much more vulnerable to "careless" drivers with their minds elsewhere. Filtering at peak times for example, has more advantages in clogged commuter areas, but is much more dangerous.
As I said earlier, I value your views/comments, (as I think all people do here), it is nice to get an honest view from somebody who has an opportunity to have a different (more professional) perspective.
Sometimes people like MCN would seem want to make people think that all bike accidents are caused by careless motorists and those using mobile phones whilst driving. They have a very strong point, but we all have to be responsible, and we bikers have occasionally been known to drive a bit quicker than and not quite as carefully as we should!
I have not had much advanced training on a bike, but spent much time with a close friend some years ago learning the art of defensive driving and fast safe lines through corners, better observation and many others.
I have found that defensive driving is possibly the most important consideration, when out on a bike, read the road ahead and the body language of other road users, but then again you'll know all this.
Keep up the good work TC, we need people like you to make us think about how we can improve and keep safe.
Hope this does not sound patronising. I certainly don't mean it to be!