There ’s a cause besides depend secure that motorcyclist pitch up in leather and Kevlar before gain the road . They acknowledge what condom data back up : Besides keepingriderscomfortable in the elements , wearing proper riding gear every time — especially helmets — will improve the chances of surviving an chance event [ origin : National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ] .
Even so , compared with people driving cars , bike drivers face a much high risk of infection of dying in a clangoring : U.S. government data from 2013 show that for every mile travel that year , the number of motorcycle - related death was 26 time the numeral of railroad car - related deaths [ source : Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ] , with a total of 4,381motorcycle fatalities .
railroad car and motorcycles share some similarities . They get on the same roads , they can be equally powerful , and they both can travel tight . But motorcycles have a few major departure that make them inherently more dangerous .
Any motorcyclist will be quick to say you science and smarts are fundamental to staying awake and in one piece . And the statistic do n’t sieve out irresponsible motorcyclist from responsible for ones . But all motorcyclists start out with some disadvantages . Because they have two wheels instead of four , the equipment driver ’s balance and driving ability — including quick reflexes — play a more vital part . And a motorcyclist rides out in the open , rather than inside the steel cage of a car frame . The ensue good sense of freedom makes motorcycles so appealing to so many people , but it also issue forth with danger . And because motorcycle are more unmanageable to see than car , they ’re more probable to be hit by other driver . Without a car ’s structural protection , a motorcycle rider involved in a crash is more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries .
Meanwhile , even as automotive producer develop new technology to make cars even safer , bike manufacturing business have fewer options . Motorcycle features such as mirror with larger fields of panorama , brighter headlamp and motorcycle airbags can help reduce risk of a crash or the severity of an injury . But in worldwide , bike are n’t marketed as safe than the previous year ’s model or the competition ’s model , and they miss the engineering - drive condom feature available in young car . Motorcycle drivers do n’t have time to jibe out a rearward - horizon tv camera , for illustration . Motorcyclists ca n’t afford to be distracted by a lane - departure word of advice .
Just sitting on a motorcycle demands skill and alert drive . But bike drivers front dangers out of their control condition — and they accept that risk every time they mount a bike .
