nordlead said:
I'll throw this out there for non-motorcyclists. (based on US crash statistics which I have on paper, but no link to)
~25% of motorcycle accidents are single vehicle accidents where the rider went off the road or hit some stationary object. About 2/3rds of these are due to excessive speed for the riding skill.
~75% are multi vehicle accidents and typically between 1 motorcycle and 1 automobile.
In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents. So the automobile was at fault. The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle. I'll also throw in that people 20-29 and older than 65 are the biggest offenders. So, to recap, it is typically the automobile drivers fault.
Motorcycles equipped with fairings and windshields (sports bikes, touring bikes) are under represented in accidents, most likely because of the contribution to conspicuity and the association with more experienced and trained riders. Motorcycle modifications such as those associated with the semi-chopper or cafe racer are definitely over represented in accidents.
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I deliberately stated well known motorcycle accidents involving cars and motorcycles because we were dealing with the preception and not the reality of what caused the accidents ... and in most major centers accidents become well known because someone did something reckless, dangerous and/or illegal which lead to someone's death or serious injury. When 90% of the accidents involving motorcycles you hear about involve a rider doing something remarkably stupid the initial assumption of someone when they hear about an accident is that it was the riders fault.
