Motorcyclists in the UK are 66 more times likely to die on the road than car drivers, making them the most vulnerable type of road user, new data has shown.
According to figures from the Department for Transport, the fatality rate per billion passenger miles for motorcyclists was 119.7, compared to just 1.8 for car drivers.
The second-most vulnerable road users were pedestrians, with a fatality rate of 33.7, while cyclists were third-most vulnerable at 29.7.
Despite reported casualties from motorcycle accidents in 2018 being at their lowest since 1979, the number of motorcycle fatalities are at their highest level since 2015 at 354.
Furthermore, while overall motorcycle casualties have fallen by almost 17% over the same time period (19,259 in 2015 to 16,209 in 2018), motorcyclists are more likely to suffer more serious injuries compared to other road users.
Serious injuries amongst motorcyclists accounted for 33% of the total number of casualties in 2018, compared to 21% for pedal bike incidents.
The number of slight injuries reported in motorcycle accidents stood at 10,967 in 2018, accounting for 65% of the total casualties.
There is such a stark difference between the fatality and accident rates among motorcyclists compared to other road users that it’s clear that, despite efforts, road safety for bikers is not improving. This suggests that motorcyclists are putting their
lives in danger every time they head out on the road, and this should not be the case.
In this blog post, we take a look at why motorcyclists are the most vulnerable road users and what can be done to improve their safety.
Even though motorcycles are quick and easily manoeuvrable, they are at the highest risk from other drivers as they easily fit into their blind spots, while newer models tend to be quieter, making it more difficult for drivers to hear them.
However, the dangers to motorcyclists do not end there. Many issues arise from a lack of proper road maintenance, potholes for instance, which increases the risk of serious accidents that are unique to them.
We carried out research into the number of potholes in two of the largest cities in the UK - Manchester and London. There are currently 6,783 potholes in Manchester - a 19.5% increase in the number reported in 2018 - and around 34,500 in London.
In addition to motorcyclists being placed in the most danger, when they are involved in an accident, they are more likely to suffer a serious - or even catastrophic - injury, as they lack a protective layer between them and other vehicles, or the road
itself.
https://www.jmw.co.uk/services-for-you/personal-injury/blog/motorcyclists-most-vulnerable-road-users
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