It is an astounding statistic but in 2007 motorcycle deaths accounted for one in every eight motor vehicle deaths.  These statistics have prompted the United States Department of Transportation to announce increased safety, drunk driving outreach and enforcement efforts.  One of the efforts to stop this increase is a new NHTSA advertising campaign showing drunk vehicle and motorcycle riders being caught for driving impaired. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation believes that a person killed on a motorcycle was 2.5 times more likely to be under the influence of alcohol than a person killed in a car.

The overall number of traffic fatalities dropped in 2007 to 41,059 - the lowest number since 1994.  Another statistic is deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled that was 1.37 is the lowest rate ever recorded. Motorcycle fatalities accounted for 13% of fatalities in 2007, an increase of 6.6% from 2006.  All of the NHTSA statistics for 2007 show that in Utah the number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes increased 4.2%.

Highway safety authorities know that even though the overall number of traveled miles are dropping for all vehicles the number of miles traveled by motorcycles is increasing.  Furthermore, they estimate that there are many more motorcycles on the streets today.  There are about 75% more motorcycles registered today than 10 years ago.

Another reason that authorities think the number of motorcycle deaths are on the rise is the decrease in the number of states that require helmets to be worn when riding a motorcycle.  In 1975 47 states required all motorcycle riders to wear helmets and now only 20 states require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.

One of the best statistical reviews concerning motorcycle injury is at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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