Motorcycling: Only 3 % of driving distance - yet 27 % of serious injuries
The risk of having a serious accident on a motorcycle is significantly higher than with other means of transport. Although motorcyclists only cover 3 % of the distance covered by motorized road traffic, they account for more than a quarter of serious road accidents.
Measured in terms of kilometers driven, the risk of having a serious accident on a motorcycle is up to 60 times higher than in a car. This large difference shows how urgent a coordinated prevention strategy is that focuses on training, infrastructure, technology and protective behavior.
BFU roadmap for sustainable accident reduction
Accident research has shown that accidents are usually not caused by a single factor, but by the interaction of several risks. To achieve a measurable improvement in the safety situation, effective measures are needed at several levels. The BFU is therefore calling on politicians and the public sector to take more decisive action. The central fields of action:
- Infrastructure: more motorcycle-friendly road planning and mitigation of accident black spots, for example by underride protection for crash barriers and highlighting bends with arrows
- Minimum age: raising the age limit for motorcycles with 125 cc back to 18 years
- Enforcement: Preventive speed checks on accident-prone routes
- Vehicles and technology: increased awareness of the benefits of assistance systems such as cornering ABS and the technical condition of motorcycles
- Protective equipment: promoting the consistent wearing of protective clothing
- Awareness-raising and training: strengthening hazard awareness, defensive driving and realistic self-assessment
Protective equipment: Many people ride without protective clothing
Motorcyclists can do a lot to protect themselves. Consistently wearing personal protective equipment should be a matter of course, but a new brief analysis by the BFU shows a need for action:
- A helmet, protective jacket, protectors and sturdy boots significantly reduce the risk of injury, but are not always worn.
- Especially in high temperatures or on short rides, many motorcyclists do not wear full protective clothing - a behavior that greatly increases the risk of serious injury.
The BFU therefore uses targeted awareness-raising measures to increase awareness of the benefits of protective clothing and its correct use.
The BFU's most important recommendations for motorcyclists:
- Drive defensively and with foresight, seek eye contact
- Adapt speed to the situation, not just to the limit
- Wear full protective equipment consistently - helmet, boots, jacket and trousers with protectors
- Attend regular training courses and keep the motorcycle in good technical condition
Source: bfu
