NYC Motorcycle Safety Study Shines a Light on Risks for Riders

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is shining some fresh light on the dangers facing local motorcyclists. The agency released a comprehensive report that investigates the “who, where, when and how” of local crashes to help better understand the risks riders face.

The report, which examined crash data stretching back several years, also included recommendations for improved street safety.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key findings of the study.

Motorcyclists are Disproportionately at Risk of Death and Injury

According to the DOT study:

• Only 2 percent of registered vehicles in New York City are motorcycles, yet from 2010-14, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of traffic fatalities in New York City.
• New York City’s fatal crash rate for motorcyclists is nearly twice the rate for New York State motorcyclists.

Young Unlicensed Males are at Highest Risk

• 43 percent of fatality cases involved a motorcycle rider who was not properly licensed to operate the vehicle.
• 56 percent of motorcycle rider fatalities were under the age of 35.
• Nearly 100 percent of motorcycle fatalities are male riders.

Evening and Summer Hours are Most Dangerous

• Motorcycle injury crashes are more likely to occur during afternoon or evening hours, and on weekends.
• The number of motorcycle injury crashes increases dramatically during summer months.
• Excessive alcohol use was less prevalent in motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes than in most motor vehicle driver fatalities in New York City, or in national motorcycle rider fatalities.

City Streets are Riskier than Highways

• Unlike pedestrian and motor vehicle KSI (Killed or Seriously Injured) crashes, motorcycle KSI crashes reveal few crash “hotspots.”
• The majority of motorcycle fatality crashes occur on city streets, rather than highways.

Visibility and Other Drivers are a Problem

• Motorcycle injury crashes are likely to involve another vehicle, not only the motorcycle rider.
• The collision types most often cited in motorcycle injury crashes indicate that visibility is an issue for motorcyclists and motor vehicle drivers

How to Solve These Problems?

In addition to learning how, when, where and why crashes occur, the DOT study issued some key safety recommendations. These are as follows:

• Develop a motorcycle focused safety campaign which targets safety messages to motorcyclists and other motor vehicle riders
• Conduct motorcycle safety outreach to the motorcycling community
• Implement strategic communication plan in conjunction with New York City Police Department (NYPD) on motorcycle safety issues
• Work with the NYPD to devise and implement a tactical enforcement strategy to reduce motorcycle crashes
• Improve data collection and sharing techniques with the NYPD and other agencies
• Partner with lawmakers as well as Federal and State agencies to enact policies aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes.

Consult Knowledgeable New York Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

At the Frankel Law Firm, we’ve been fighting for the rights of injured persons for more than 40 years. If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today at (212) 888-5100 or at www.Frankellawfirm.com. All plaintiff personal injury cases which are accepted are on a contingency basis which means that there will be no attorneys fee unless successful. Given the coronavirus pandemic, we can arrange for a free consultation by Facetime, Zoom, Skype or WhatsApp. Please feel free to give us a call.

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