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Motorcycling is dangerous??


What a boring conversation to have at family gatherings or the social outing.


Just so we are all reading the same sentences, walking across a road, riding to school on a bicycle and eating take-out can kill you.


The only reason someone uses the “dangerous” card is they themselves are scared of the idea of being on two wheels regardless of your opinion. Just let them know they can either educate themselves and try it at a motorcycle learning school or move on from the subject. (Never too old to learn the most awesome way to go from A to B!)


These are the opinions of MAH only, you can make your own opinions but do educate yourself before having a rant.


Cars are not toys, nether are motorcycles but I know which one is more dangerous and its not the motorcycle.


The motorcycle is an analogue and rider controlled experience. That raw and connected sense of participating in your journey directly with the vehicle is what adds “life” to daily tasks over sitting in a beige box on four wheels waiting for life to pass by. (The same thing for old cars… its raw and real - living life!)

Statistics?


Based on New Zealand’s transport statistics you are safer on a motorcycle than being a car passenger.


Another interesting fact is if you consider statistically being a pedestrian has 50% less chance of being fatality killed than a motorcycle rider.
Then we should uncover some more information about the mode of transport.


Walking

most pedestrians might walk between 2-10km per day.


Motorcycling,

Let’s take a commuting scenario of 5-10km per day on a light use case.


How many activities does the motorcyclist perform per km travelled? 

I would estimate risks are measured per minute when riding in city traffic vs risks per km walked by a pedestrian. 

That shows rider education does matter otherwise without rider awareness the stats would be 100+ motorcycle riders for every one pedestrian fatality - but they are only two (2) for every one (1).


Motorcycling, statistically speaking is not dangerous! 

Most want to ride the next day regardless of the negative voices.


Deaths are not injuries, and that is a point of difference to be aware of as many motorcyclists do injure themselves far more often than drivers sitting in a car. 

You could have a minor scratch or a life changing injury and survive. So prevention is the best medicine. Due to rider exposure there are additional risks to your health that a car driver is generally protected from by simply sitting inside a vehicle.


Skill up and learn to control your motorcycle properly, position yourself on the road safely, watch your following distances and set speed your appropriately for the road conditions.

Summary


Out of all recorded motorcycle fatalities, it is estimated that 50% of those fatalities were done without another vehicle involved. (ie excess speed)


There is no solution to prevent every scenario but being prepared to slow as needed and positioning a motorcycle on the road appropriate for the situation is the difference between a fatality or being bruised up… 


That near-miss or non-fatal outcome is not recorded in these transport stats.


I would suspect accidents without fatality for motorcycle riders will be quite higher vs pedestrians, passengers and car drivers combined and this is where the rider education counts the most to prevent harm and minimise rider risks.

1. Idiots


There are so many idiots on the roads today, here are some fun facts.


A: Motorcyclists drive cars too - Amazing! Riders might have some insight to good and bad road behaviour from both a car and motorcycle view point. 


B: As a general guide, history is full of idiots regardless of skill set, the vehicles used or education and that will never change.


New vehicles with all the “driver aids” like lane assist, object detection, etc… These vehicles remove the good habits from drivers like head checks or using mirrors. It’s even worse today (2025) as we are now seeing vehicles with massive landscape displays showing (glowing) absolute garbage information that is irrelevant to their driving responsibilities and more for a “lounge room” experience for the passengers “comfort”.

Fact: Gas gauge, speedometer is all you need anything else is a luxury item. Look at the blinken road and not your mobile phone or infotainment wide screens!

Some drivers have never before had the power or speed of a Tesla or Ford Everest vehicles (suburban warriors *cough* “ragers”), now suddenly they think they are F1 race drivers… Amazing what happens when a lack of awareness for your own responsibility as a vehicle operator does to power hungry idiots. They just pull out and into traffic like it’s free room every time for them as if no one else has a dash cam to report dangerous driving… (Motorcycles do it too,,, but they can fit in tighter spaces, still not a valid excuse for cutting the vehicles off!)

2. Crashes due to “excess” control errors


Where any vehicle has a serious crash due to control miss-use (aka vehicle abuse on a public road)…


A: When a motorcycle crashes, they typically only injure/kill themselves.


B: When a car crashes, they typically injure/kill themselves, any passengers and the oncoming vehicle’s occupants in the worst scenario.


Fun fact, motorcyclists like to live so knowing that there is no rolling safety cage for small incidents does generate a lot of respect for the vehicle being used (can’t fix all the idiots but that is a natural selection process).


So where should the education for vehicle safety be focused on if were spending government money, car drivers or motorcycle riders, based on the causes of life lost on the roads you could make that choice using your local electorate office but I would suggest all road users need to attend some form of road skill re-education session every 5 years.


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