List of motorcycle deaths in U.S. by year

This is a list of motorcycle deaths in U.S. by year from 1997 to 2006. Motorcycle fatalities have increased each year since reaching an historic low of 2,116 fatalities in 1997. In nine years, motorcycle deaths have more than doubled in the United States.

Number of motorcycle deaths per year, U.S.:

*1997—2,116
*1998—2,294
*1999—2,483
*2000—2,897
*2001—3,197 (some NHTSA lists show 3,181)
*2002—3,244
*2003—3,661 (some NHTSA lists show 3,714)
*2004—4,008
*2005—4,553
*2006—4,810
*2007—5,154

Since 1980, motorcycle ownership among riders aged 40 and over has increased dramatically, from 15.1 percent in 1980 to 43.7 percent in 1998. The mean engine displacement of the motorcycles involved in fatal crashes has also increased, from an average engine size of 769cc in 1990, to 959cc in 2001, an increase of 24.7 percent.

This combination of older riders on higher-powered motorcycles is partially responsible for a steady increase in motorcycle deaths from the late 1990s until 2004.

Half of motorcycle fatalities in single vehicle crashes relate to problems negotiating a curve prior to a crash—almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle crashes occur at night.

References

* [http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/motorcycle03/index.htm Motorcycle Safety Program] , National Highway Traffic Safety Administration