Motorcycle riding, a popular activity in Canada for both transportation and recreation, has unfortunately witnessed a concerning rise in fatalities. While the number of registered motorcycles has steadily increased, the fatality rate has surged, reaching its highest point in over two decades in 2020. This alarming trend highlights the vulnerability of motorcyclists on the road, despite efforts to enhance safety.

A Closer Look at the Data:

• Fatality Trends: 2020 saw a dramatic 24% increase in motorcycle deaths compared to 2019, with the total number exceeding 200 for the first time in over 20 years. This surge is particularly pronounced among riders aged 25 to 39 and 60 to 79.

• Age and Gender: Males account for a disproportionately high share of motorcycle fatalities, with a rate over seven times higher than females. This disparity can be partially attributed to the higher percentage of male motorcycle drivers. Additionally, the highest fatality rate occurs among those aged 40 to 59, reflecting the age group most likely to be motorcycle drivers.

• Rider Position: Over 80% of motorcycle fatalities involve drivers, with passengers accounting for a smaller percentage.

• Passengers: Approximately one in nine motorcycle fatalities involve a rider with a passenger. This emphasizes the additional safety considerations when carrying a passenger, as it affects the vehicle’s handling and balance.

Understanding the Contributing Factors:

The Canadian Coroner and Medical Examiner Database (CCMED) provides valuable insights into the circumstances surrounding motorcycle fatalities. While specific details are not always available, the data reveals important patterns:

• Risk Factors: Common risk factors for road traffic injuries, identified by the World Health Organization, play a role in motorcycle fatalities. These include speeding, impaired driving, and unsafe road infrastructure.

• Safety Measures: The Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada (MCC) advocates for various safety measures, including wearing appropriate gear, taking motorcycle courses, and being extra alert at night. The MCC also encourages other motorists to check blind spots and look twice before proceeding through intersections, as motorcycles can be less visible to traffic.

Moving Forward:

Statistics Canada, in recognition of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, is releasing this report to shed light on the circumstances surrounding motorcycle fatalities. The analysis underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance safety for motorcyclists. By understanding the patterns and contributing factors, we can work collectively to develop and implement effective safety measures to protect the lives of Canadians on the road.

Delving Deeper into Motorcycle Fatalities: Collision Types, Locations and Risk Factors

This report further examines the circumstances surrounding motorcycle fatalities in Canada, focusing on the types of collisions, locations, and contributing risk factors.

Collision Types:

• Multi-vehicle Collisions Dominant: Over half (55%) of motorcycle fatalities involved collisions with other vehicles, highlighting the importance of driver awareness and safe driving practices by all road users.

• Intersection Collisions Prevalent: Among multi-vehicle fatalities, intersections emerged as the most common location, with collisions involving turns across traffic and T-bone impacts being particularly frequent.

• Single-Vehicle Collisions: While less common than multi-vehicle collisions, single-motorcycle fatalities are often associated with loss of control, highlighting the need for skilled riding and proper vehicle maintenance.

• Collision Type and Demographics: Multi-vehicle fatalities were more common than single-vehicle fatalities for male and female drivers across all age groups, except for drivers aged 16 to 24 and 80 and older. This suggests different factors may contribute to crashes in these specific age groups, with young drivers potentially facing inexperience and older drivers facing age-related challenges.

Location of Fatalities:

• Intersections and Highways: Areas of Concern: Intersections and highways were the leading locations for motorcycle fatalities, highlighting the vulnerability of motorcyclists in these areas.

• Intersections More Dangerous for Motorcycles: The proportion of motorcycle fatalities occurring at intersections was more than double that of passenger vehicle fatalities, emphasizing the need for extra caution and awareness at intersections for all road users.

• Other Locations: Public roadways, bridges, railroad crossings, and private parking lots also contributed to motorcycle fatalities.

Risk Factors:

• Risk Factors Present in Majority of Cases: At least one risk factor was identified in over half of investigated motorcycle fatalities, underscoring the crucial role of responsible driving practices and safety measures.

• Alcohol and Drugs, Speeding, and Loss of Control: Common risk factors included alcohol or drug consumption, excessive speed, loss of control, lack of experience, challenging conditions, helmet absence, and mechanical issues.

Understanding the Data:

While the data provides valuable insights, it’s important to note that the absence of a risk factor does not necessarily indicate its absence, as it may simply not be reported. This report emphasizes the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance motorcycle safety, including:

• Driver Education: Continued education on safe driving practices, particularly for young and older drivers, is critical.

• Increased Awareness: Raising awareness of the vulnerabilities of motorcyclists and promoting shared responsibility among all road users is essential.

• Infrastructure Improvement: Improving infrastructure, particularly at intersections and highways, can help to minimize risks for motorcyclists.

• Safety Equipment: Encouraging the use of protective gear, such as helmets, can significantly reduce the severity of injuries.

By taking these measures, we can work together to create a safer environment for motorcyclists and all road users.

Impaired Driving and Excessive Speed: Major Contributors to Motorcycle Fatalities

This section delves into the prevalence of impaired driving and excessive speed as significant contributing factors to motorcycle fatalities in Canada.

Impaired Driving:

• Significant Percentage: Almost one-third (31%) of motorcycle fatalities involved alcohol, cannabis, or other drug consumption, highlighting the ongoing issue of impaired driving.

• Alcohol Most Common: While alcohol was the most frequently reported substance (67%), cannabis (40%) and other drugs (25%) were also present in a significant portion of cases.

• Gender and Age Disparities: Impaired driving was more common among male drivers (36%) than female drivers (18%), and among drivers aged 25 to 39 (49%) compared to other age groups (28%). This aligns with broader trends in impaired driving statistics.

• Time of Day and Collision Type: Impaired driving was more prevalent in motorcycle fatalities occurring at night (56%) compared to daytime (24%) and was also more common in single-vehicle collisions (42%) than multi-vehicle collisions (25%).

Excessive Speed:

• Significant Contributing Factor: Speed was identified as a risk factor in almost one in four (24%) motorcycle fatalities.

• Gender and Age Variations: Excessive speed was more frequently reported in fatalities involving male drivers (28%) than female drivers (8%), and among drivers aged 16 to 39 (39%) compared to older drivers (20%).

• Association with Impaired Driving and Collision Type: Speed was more prevalent in fatalities involving alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs (42%) than those without these substances (24%), and in single-vehicle collisions (33%) compared to multi-vehicle collisions (20%).

Implications:

These findings underscore the importance of:

• Strict Enforcement: Continued enforcement of impaired driving laws and stricter penalties for offenders are crucial to deter this dangerous behavior.

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Raising public awareness about the risks of impaired driving and promoting responsible choices are essential.

• Driver Education: Emphasizing the dangers of excessive speed and promoting safe driving practices in driver education programs is vital.

• Technological Advancements: Exploring and implementing technological advancements, such as ignition interlock devices and speed-limiting systems, could help to mitigate the risks associated with impaired driving and excessive speed.

By addressing these issues through a multi-pronged approach, we can strive to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities caused by impaired driving and excessive speed, contributing to safer roads for all Canadians.