- Mototcycle Safety
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 During the 1997-1998 school year, 8 motorcycle occupants ages 5 through 18 were killed during "normal school transportation hours" in traffic crashes.1
In 1998, 2,284 motorcyclists were killed and an additional 49,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States.
In 1998, a total of 134 motorcycle occupants ages 5 through 18 were killed in motorcycle related crashes.
Motorcycles are more likely to be involved in a fatal collision with a fixed object than are other vehicles.
The head, arms and legs are most often injured in a crash.
Helmets are estimated to be 29 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries.
All motorcycle helmets sold in the United States are required to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, the performance standard which establishes the minimum level of protection helmets must afford each user.
Per mile traveled in 1997, motorcyclists were about 14 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die and about 3 times as likely to be injured in a motor vehicle crash.
Many of the causes of motorcycle crashes may be attributed to lack of experience or failure to appreciate the inherent operating characteristics and limitations of the motorcycle.
One out of four motorcycle operators, age 15 through 18, involved in fatal crashes in 1998 were operating the vehicle with an invalid license.
All states require motorcycle operators to take a special test and obtain a separate endorsement on their driver license before operating a motorcycle on public roads.
Seventeen percent of motorcycle operators, age 15 through 18, who died in single-vehicle crashes in 1998 were intoxicated.
1 For this analysis of data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, "normal school transportation hours" were defined as: Monday through Friday; 6:00 a.m. to 8:59 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:59 p.m.; September 1 through June 15 each school year |
