Warmer Weather,More Motorcyles On the Roads,More Accidents, Where does NoDak Rank

I did a story yesterday about car fatalities, and the states with the worst drivers. That got me thinking, what states have the most accidents in terms of motorcycles?This warmer weather has everyone out doing all sorts of outdoor activities and the one thing I learned from my two years living in Bismarck, riders really LOVE to ride their motorcycles, and I think it's because our riding season is so short. We try to ride as many days and hours as we can fit in during the 5- 6 months of riding season we have.

With BIKE NIGHT coming up in less than a week at Hooters, I figured this would be a timely subject.  So where does NoDak rank in terms of motorcycle accidents and fatalities? According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, (GHSA) the most recent data I could find was released nearly a year ago. According to the findings, motorcycle fatalities are predicted to rise as much as 9%. According to the survey;

The report points out that the economy is expected to contribute to more  motorcyclist fatalities. With people having more disposable income, more  motorcycles will be purchased. At the same time, with the relative high price  of gasoline, more people will choose motorcycles to save fuel costs.

According to the report, North Dakota is listed as one of the states included in the 9% rise in motorcycle fatalities. the website gives specific details on North Dakota. Other interesting data from the website includes, 19 states require all riders wear helmets, NoDak is NOT on of those states.

One of the contributing factors to MC accidents in NoDak, early in the riding season are the sand and gravel that remain on the roads from the winter months according to the survey.

35% of fatal crashes on MC are single vehicle accidents, not involving another vehicle. The only vehicle involved is the motorcycle itself and 22% of the MC accidents involved riders that were not properly licensed or did not posses the motorcycle endorsement on their drivers license.

The information from the report is eye opening, especially since it is North Dakota specific. You can get more detailed information from the GHSA website.

Be sure to share the road. As I always say, dress for the crash, not the ride. And never mix alcohol while operating any machinery on the road. Join us for Bike Night, beginning Wednesday, June 4th at Hooters!