INDIANA—Fatal motorcycle crashes significantly increase during the summer months, a trend largely attributed to more favorable riding conditions, according to a recent analysis of 2023 data. July and August alone accounted for over 24% of all fatal motorcycle crashes last year, with longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures encouraging more riders onto the roads. Conversely, winter months like January and December saw the lowest percentages of such accidents.
Beyond seasonal variations, the study highlights a strong correlation between lax helmet laws and higher fatality rates. States with no universal helmet laws (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire) saw motorcycles involved in 26.2% of all fatal crashes, compared to 13.5% in states with universal helmet mandates. While helmets don’t prevent all accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates they are 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries for operators and 41% for passengers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2023, there were 238,729 motorcycles registered in Indiana, and 144 fatal accidents occurred.
Alarmingly, alcohol and speeding remain major contributors to fatal motorcycle crashes, involved in 38.8% and 38.4% of all such incidents in 2023, respectively. Unlike cars, motorcycles often lack crucial safety features such as airbags and seatbelts, making fatal outcomes significantly more likely. NHTSA data indicates motorcyclists were approximately 28 times more likely to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled in 2023 compared to car occupants.
Younger drivers, aged 15 to 20, were also a significant factor, involved in 12.8% of fatal motorcycle crashes. Rob Bhatt, a LendingTree auto insurance expert, attributes this to the natural risk-taking tendencies of younger individuals, which are influenced by brain development.
The analysis also revealed that urban areas have a higher proportion of fatal motorcycle crashes (65.0%) than rural areas (34.4%). Bhatt explains that increased population density and traffic congestion in urban environments naturally lead to more potential collision points.
Overall, fatal motorcycle crashes have risen by 26.2% over the past five years, with a continuous increase each year between 2019 and 2023. This surge is likely influenced by a combination of factors, including the pervasive issue of distracted driving and the relaxation of universal helmet use laws across many states since federal funding requirements were abolished in 1976. Currently, only 17 states and Washington, D.C. mandate helmets for all riders, despite data suggesting that thousands of lives could have been saved if all states required universal helmet use.
