Motorcycle Deaths Up In U.S., And Florida Leads Pack

[kawgurl]

Motorcycle Deaths Up In U.S., And Florida Leads Pack
TBO.com

Published: October 17, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Highway fatalities nationwide decreased in 2007 compared with 2006, but motorcycle fatalities increased, and in no state were there more than in Florida, according to federal figures released Thursday.

Florida had 530 motorcycle fatalities in 2007, according to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The state with the next highest number is California with 495 deaths. Texas placed third with 375 deaths, and Pennsylvania was fourth with 210, according to the NHTSA.

The figures were used by the National Transportation Safety Board for a study on all types of transportation fatalities.

In most categories there were decreases – in aviation and in marine deaths, for instance. Though fewer people died during recreational boating, there was a slight increase in the number of people who died while passengers on commercial vessels, the NTSB said.

Aside from the increase in motorcycle fatalities, there was an increase in the number of people killed in rail fatalities – from 774 to 808. The vast majority of these fatalities were people struck by rail vehicles.

Highway fatalities, which account for nearly 95 percent of all transportation deaths, decreased from 42,708 in 2006 to 41,059 in 2007. That represents a 4 percent decrease.

However, the number of motorcycle deaths increased from 4,837 to 5,154, a 7 percent jump. And the 317 additional deaths in 2007 was the largest spike in any category.

In Florida, of the 530 killed, 52 percent were wearing helmets and 48 percent were not, according to NHTSA data. The state does not require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.

California does. In that state, 86 percent of those killed were wearing a helmet and 14 percent were not.

In Florida, 25 percent had a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08. A driver in the state is presumed intoxicated if his or her percentage is 0.08 or greater. Thirty-two percent of the people killed had a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.01, the NHTSA data show.

[wanting]

Motorcycle Deaths Up In U.S., And Florida Leads Pack
TBO.com

Published: October 17, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Highway fatalities nationwide decreased in 2007 compared with 2006, but motorcycle fatalities increased, and in no state were there more than in Florida, according to federal figures released Thursday.

Florida had 530 motorcycle fatalities in 2007, according to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The state with the next highest number is California with 495 deaths. Texas placed third with 375 deaths, and Pennsylvania was fourth with 210, according to the NHTSA.

The figures were used by the National Transportation Safety Board for a study on all types of transportation fatalities.

In most categories there were decreases – in aviation and in marine deaths, for instance. Though fewer people died during recreational boating, there was a slight increase in the number of people who died while passengers on commercial vessels, the NTSB said.

Aside from the increase in motorcycle fatalities, there was an increase in the number of people killed in rail fatalities – from 774 to 808. The vast majority of these fatalities were people struck by rail vehicles.

Highway fatalities, which account for nearly 95 percent of all transportation deaths, decreased from 42,708 in 2006 to 41,059 in 2007. That represents a 4 percent decrease.

However, the number of motorcycle deaths increased from 4,837 to 5,154, a 7 percent jump. And the 317 additional deaths in 2007 was the largest spike in any category.

In Florida, of the 530 killed, 52 percent were wearing helmets and 48 percent were not, according to NHTSA data. The state does not require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.

California does. In that state, 86 percent of those killed were wearing a helmet and 14 percent were not.

In Florida, 25 percent had a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08. A driver in the state is presumed intoxicated if his or her percentage is 0.08 or greater. Thirty-two percent of the people killed had a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.01, the NHTSA data show.


but how many people die in car, truck, van accidents a year in florida?

[yamomz1]

What is the percentage increase of new registered motorcycles in the last year also another fact that is never brought up, I know there is over 100,000 registered bikes in Pinellas alone

[pr1000]

that suck i know about 3 death this year they were my frs.

[CHRISTINA]

this is why i rudely solicit life insurance to EVERYONE that comes to me for a quote.

:( very sad

[vtwinpower]

Freakin stats don't give the whole picture.We all know more bikes are on the road because of gas prices,Florida has no helmet law,you can ride all year around in the top three states on that list,16 yr old w/gsxr 1000,etc,etc,......

[yamomz1]

Just found these numbers for 2006 and its only gone up due to more registered bikes

By the numbers

* 582,740: Registered motorcycles in Florida in 2006.
* 521: Motorcyclists who died statewide in 2006.
* 7,934: Motorcyclists injured statewide in 2006.
* 616 of those riders were injured in Hillsborough
* 465 were injured in Pinellas
* 253 were injured in Pasco
* 100 were injured in Hernando

[wanting]

Just found these numbers for 2006 and its only gone up due to more registered bikes

By the numbers

* 582,740: Registered motorcycles in Florida in 2006.
* 521: Motorcyclists who died statewide in 2006.
* 7,934: Motorcyclists injured statewide in 2006.
* 616 of those riders were injured in Hillsborough
* 465 were injured in Pinellas
* 253 were injured in Pasco
* 100 were injured in Hernando


how many in hernando do to N runs lol

[RICO]

That sucks, but as always stats don't tell the whole story.

[griffinzx10]

What is the percentage increase of new registered motorcycles in the last year also another fact that is never brought up, I know there is over 100,000 registered bikes in Pinellas alone

:+1:+1


Freakin stats don't give the whole picture.We all know more bikes are on the road because of gas prices,Florida has no helmet law,you can ride all year around in the top three states on that list,16 yr old w/gsxr 1000,etc,etc,......


:+1:+1


I hate those stats....

High Gas prices............MORE NEW RIDERS.............MORE BIKES...............MORE ACCIDENTS................ OOOOO MOTORCYCLES ARE BAD..


HA HA HA< you know, i bet Car accidents went up from 5 years ago, more drivers...... more cars more accidents....

[RICO]

I think i posted this stat before.
In Puerto Rico there were close to or over 100,000 bikes, mopeds, cruisers in 5 or so years. In the same time there were less than 10 motorcycle licenses issued.

[suicide king]

R.I.P. brother-riders.

[stunter78]

This was proven skewed last year. I don't remember the numbers, but the percentage actually went down when taking into account of the new bikers. The increase was mostly due to middle aged business men that had a mid-life crisis and thought it would be cool to by a bike and ride around without helmets

As of June this year, dealers had already sold 180% of all the sales last year. It pisses me off that because of miss-skewed numbers like this is the reason why bullshit laws get past

[Gixzer7Fitty]

I guarantee that 90% of alcohol related deaths were Harley riders over 50.

Also like 40% of that 2007 # was due to new riders that got a bike to save money on gas but had no idea how to really ride a bike.

Don't forget the squids that thought it would be a good idea to get that shinny new R-1 as there 1st bike.

Anyways lets try to bring that # down in 08 ride safe every 1

[IanH&D]

Baased on my experience with the Harley crowd that may be true. However the stats don't lie 148 riders out of 530 were leagally drunk. FWIW be carefull who you ride with or decide to "open it up" against. JMO

[jwcass]

Like you all mentioned, these stats are skewed in favor of the law makers and legislators, with revenue in mind. That's the beauty of statistics, you can make them tell whatever story you'd like.

I looked a little further, and although I could find the increase in number of motorcycle registrations from 2007 to 2008, I did find the number of motorcycle transactions for state revenue, which should be a little closer to reality.

2007 - 605,947 DHSMV revenue-generating transactions

2008- 654,324 DHSMV revenue-generating transactions

That's an increase of 48,377 revenue based transactions (surely most of which are new registrations or renewals.)

URLS: http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/revpub/revpub_july06_june07.pdf

http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/revpub/revpub_july07_june08.pdf

[Sparky]

it's still 2008, so the chances of finding out how many 'new' registered bikes are out there, may not get fully pulicized until 2009....thru these stats don't give the whole picture, and yes, where are the cager stats..yada yada yada...and I know for a fact there are a good number of sportbikers who drink when they ride...so we can't rely on "I guarantee that 90% of alcohol related deaths were Harley riders over 50."

It is what it is, and as long as more idiots get on bikes, there will be more deaths, just like there will be more cager deaths, more rail deaths. The population is booming, and I take it as gods way of population control.......

Sparky

[echoraven]

Alot of it probably has to do with the influx of new riders and idiots like the minivan this past Sunday that thought the Stop sign was really just a suggestion...

...and she had a bumper sticker that said "Mom's taxi" when it should have said "idiot mom"...

[tampa-r6]

The bottom line is the comparison among other states. I know for a fact there are many riders in Cali, but the bike mentality there is totally different than it is here. Given the mountainous roads and crazy traffic there, they should definitely have more fatalities than here in flat Florida, yet they don't. The main reason I can see for this is the fact that motorist respect motorcycles, it seems like motorcyclists are more trained and everyone wears gear. Helmets are law in Cali. I am shocked that we have a death rate higher than theirs, it is terrifying to think that roads here are more dangerous than Angeles Crest.

[IanH&D]

The state of florida uses a one armed approach-educate the rider. It should be educate the driver instead.

[Heidi-BooBoo]

Stats suck, but more bikes = more accidents and deaths!