Madison Genthry 
The Illinois Department of Transportation reports that motorcycle accidents account for a big chunk of the traffic fatalities in Chicago. They are reportedly much higher than accidents involving other types of vehicles.
But what if we could change that? What if we could cut down on these accidents and save lives? The answer might lie in Chicago motorcycle accident statistics. If we take a moment to carefully look at the trends in accidents, injuries, and even fatalities, we can start to spot patterns and risk factors that lead to these crashes. And once we know what’s causing them, we can do something about it.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Chicago
Motorcycles make up 15% of all traffic accidents, which is far too high considering they represent only a small fraction of the total vehicles on the road.
The National Safety Council shows that your odds of being in a motorcycle accident are about 1 in 100. That might sound like a low chance, but it’s still a big deal when you consider the potential for injury or death. More worrying is that there’s a 1 in 747 chance of being killed in a motorcycle crash.
Motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than someone in a car. On top of that, they are four times more likely to be injured. These go to further prove that motorcycles carry a much higher risk compared to other vehicles.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reported that in 2018, motorcycles were involved in less than 1% of all crashes, but they accounted for 12.1% of all traffic fatalities.
The fatality rate for motorcyclists is particularly high. On average, there are 65 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles. To put that in context, the overall fatality rate for all vehicles in Illinois is much lower. On top of that, the injury rate for motorcyclists is even higher, at 864 injuries per 100,000 registered motorcycles.
Motorcycle accidents are more common in urban environments than in rural ones. In Chicago, two-thirds of all motorcycle accidents happen in urban areas.
In 2018, of the 2,973 motorcycle crashes in Illinois, the majority of those involved accidents on city roads or streets. Out of the 119 motorcyclist deaths, 39 occurred on city roads, while an additional 24 fatalities happened on state routes within urban areas.
What’s Driving the Increase in Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle accidents are on the rise, and there are a few reasons for this. One key factor is the increasing number of miles traveled by motorcyclists. According to experts, the average motorcyclist now travels around 3,000 miles a year, which is still far fewer than car drivers but enough to increase the chances of an accident.
Another reason for the rise in accidents is the aging motorcyclist population. The average age of a motorcyclist is now around 50 years old, and while older riders tend to have more experience, they are also more vulnerable to severe injuries due to the natural aging process.
Also, studies have shown that wearing a helmet reduces the chances of a head injury by 69%. Despite this, only about two-thirds of riders consistently wear helmets, and the rest of the noncompliant ones are left to face the threat of potentially life-threatening injuries.
Helmet laws vary by state, and Illinois does not mandate helmet use for all riders. So, the enforcement of these laws and rider compliance remains a challenge.
Who Are the Most Vulnerable?
Motorcycle accidents affect everyone, but some groups are at greater risk. The majority of motorcyclists who die in crashes are male, and the most vulnerable age group is riders between 25 and 29.
This group sees the highest number of fatalities, which may be due to a combination of factors like inexperience, risk-taking behavior, and lack of proper safety gear.
Older riders, aged 45 and above, also have a higher chance of being involved in a crash. Even though they might have more experience, their bodies are less resilient to the kind of impact that occurs in a motorcycle crash.
