Many people throughout Illinois love riding their motorcycles, but as responsible bike riders are aware, motorcyclists can suffer serious injury if they get into an auto collision. The consequences can result in long-term medical treatment, disability, or even death. Not all times of the day present equal dangers to motorcyclists, though.
Depending on the hour or the day of the week you ride, you may run a greater risk of getting into an accident. The Insurance Information Institute lists some statistics from the year 2018 showing when the greatest number of motorcyclist fatalities occurred by time periods of the day and whether it was the weekday or weekend.
The riskiest times to ride
The III website found two different time periods when motorcyclist fatalities exceeded 20%. The likeliest times of motorcycle deaths were from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays, which constituted 24.9% of all fatalities on weekdays, and 6 to 9 p.m. on weekdays, which consisted of 23.7% of all weekend deaths.
By contrast, the lowest percentages of motorcycle accidents happened in the early morning hours between 3 and 6 a.m. on weekdays and 6 to 9 a.m. on weekends. This comparison illustrates the fact that motorcyclists face greater dangers when they ride in afternoon traffic, when there are more vehicles on the road and more opportunities for an inattentive driver not to spot a motorcycle.
Minimizing the risk of injury or death
The III website cited information from the NHTSA showing that motorcycle helmets were a key factor in saving lives. Wearing helmets kept 1,872 motorcycle riders from dying in accidents in the year 2017. The NHTSA claims that if every motorcyclist wore a helmet, 749 riders would not have died in that same year. Wearing helmets would also have saved $3.5 billion in economic expenses and comprehensive costs reaching $21 billion.
Another way to diminish injury risk is to not drink alcohol before riding. The III website cited numbers showing blood alcohol levels were a factor in some motorcycle crashes from 2009-2018. Still, while you as a rider can control your drinking, drivers who share the road with you might not act responsibly. Wearing a helmet and visible road gear like a brightly colored jacket may help you stay visible to traffic and prevent the worst from happening.
