Causes of Motorcycle Crashes and How to Prevent Them

By Ms. Michelle Piehl, Staff Writer

If you ride a motorcycle, it is important to stay on track with all required training and seasonal riding briefs. Even in the most pristine conditions, riders can encounter dangerous situations, whether intentional or not, and adding winter weather on top of that increases the risk.

According to the National Safety Council, in 2022, motorcycles represented only three percent of all registered vehicles. Unfortunately, 14.6 percent of all traffic fatalities and 3.5 percent of injuries that year involved motorcycles.[1]

The Federal Highway Administration recently published a report studying the causes of motorcycle crashes in the United States. Some of the reasons and contributing factors include the following.

  • Perception failure by other vehicle drivers accounted for thirty percent of crashes.
  • Errors in judgment or decision-making by other vehicle drivers contributed to seventeen percent of crashes, and errors in judgment or decision-making by motorcycle drivers accounted for fourteen percent of crashes.
  • Delayed or improper reactions by motorcyclists accounted for twelve percent of crashes.
  • Instances where motorcyclists fail to perceive hazards or other vehicles contributed to eleven percent of crashes.
  • Observed in forty-four percent of crashes, unsafe actions like speeding, aggressive riding, or other risky behaviors contributed to crashes.
  • Distractions or lapses in attention by motorcyclists or other vehicle drivers were present in thirty-two percent of crashes.
  • Overrepresented in single-vehicle crashes, the loss of control by motorcyclists includes instances where riders lose control due to speed, road conditions, or mechanical issues.
  • Poor lane positioning or the failure to anticipate other vehicles’ movements contributed to fifty percent of multiple-vehicle crashes.
  • Alcohol or drug impairment by motorcyclists or other drivers was present in thirteen percent of crashes.[2]

Avoiding intoxicating substances, maintaining high levels of situational awareness, maintaining defensive driving skills, wearing the proper equipment, and going the speed limit are all easy ways to ride with increased safety. Taking training classes are not only helpful, they are required by the Air Force, which tracks and monitors compliance.

According to the Air Force Safety Center, “The Motorcycle Unit Safety Tracking Tool (MUSTT) was designed to provide training data for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) motorcycle riders and fill the requirements for monitoring both rider demographics and training outlined in DAFI 91-207, U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program. With the data collected, the DAF can make informed decisions on what guidance changes need to be made to keep Airmen and Guardians safe while driving a motorcycle and what training each rider has received.”

Riders should keep MUSTT accounts up to date to ensure that they adhere to all mandatory training standards and receive all the latest safety information. In 2024, of the fifteen fatalities reported, six riders had unknown or incomplete training, and five had inactive or no MUSTT accounts.

Riders should prepare for their ride by asking the following questions, easily remembered with the acronym BOMB:

  • B = Body: Am I physically able to ride without restrictions?
  • O= Organized: Do I have everything I need for this ride?
  • M = Mind: Is my mind clear and free from distractions?
  • B = Bike Skills: Do I have the skills to safely complete this ride?[3]

In addition to safe riding practices, wearing the right equipment is a must. Find the right helmet at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/motorcycle-safety/choose-right-motorcycle-helmet. For more information about airbag vests, check out “Enhancing Rider Safety: The Role of Motorcycle Airbag Vests” in the Summer 2025 issue of The Mobility Forum.

There Were 15 Motorcycle Fatalities in 2024

Fatalities decreased 32% with the rider at fault 93% of the time.

13 were operating sport bikes

11 were speeding

8 were speeding in excess of 25 mph over the limit

8 failed to negotiate a curve

2 fatalities were riders under the influence of an intoxicating substance

6 had incomplete or unknown training

11 were between the ages of 20-25

5 riders had inactive or no MUSTT account

[1] National Safety Council. 2022. “Motorcycles.” https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/motorcycles/

[2] Nazemetz, John W., Frances D. Bents, James G. Perry, Craig Thor, and Yusuf M. Mohamedshah. Motorcycle Crash Causation Study: Final Report. Report No. FHWA-HRT-18-064. McLean, VA: Federal Highway Administration, February 2019.

[3] Air Force Safety Center. n.d. “Department of the Air Force Rider.” https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Occupational-Safety-Division/Air-Force-Rider/