IN.gov - Skip Navigation

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.


Mobile Site RSS Feeds
Amber Alert
Amber Alert - TEST

ICJI > Traffic Safety > Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Motorcycle Safety & Awareness

In 2008, motorcycles and mopeds were involved in 3,814 collisions in Indiana, resulting in 133 fatalities. These deaths included 118 motorcycle operators, 12 motorcycle passengers, one driver and one passenger of another vehicle, and one pedestrian. The number of persons killed in motorcycle crashes in Indiana continued to increase in 2008. Motorcycle collisions accounted for 16.3 percent (133/814) of total Indiana traffic fatalities.

In 2008, here were 3,814 collisions involving motorcycles in Indiana. This was a 7.3 percent increase from the previous year. Single vehicle crashes accounted for 46.9 percent of all collisions. In all, 125 fatal collisions occurred on Indiana roadways in 2008. Of these,  42.4 percent were single vehicle. Single motorcycle fatal collisions had the highest average annual growth rate (9.8 percent) from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, the probability that a given collision resulted in one or more fatalities was 3.3 percent.

During the past five years, the likelihood of a motorcycle collision involving a fatality was greater when the motorcycle collided with some other vehicle. For 2008, 3,907 motorcycles collided with 2,096 other vehicles (including 40 pedestrians and pedalcyclists).   Among all vehicles, 125 had one or more fatalities on board. Overall, the number of motorcycles involved in crashes has grown at an average rate of 7.5 percent annually, slightly faster than other non-motorcycle vehicles.

There were 4,094 individuals on motorcycles involved in collisions in 2008, 130 of which were killed. The number of individuals killed on motorcycles has increased at an average annual rate of 4.9 percent from 2004 to 2008. When collisions occur, the probability of a fatal injury to a motorcyclist has remained at 3.2 percent the last three years. The probability of incapacitating injuries was 12.2 percent in 2008. When Indiana motorcycle crashes occurred from 2004 to 2008, about three-quarters of motorcycle operators and 96 percent of motorcycle passengers suffered some form of injury.

For the past two years (2007-08), motorcyclists age 40 to 49 years were most likely to incur a serious (fatal or incapacitating) injury.   The second highest category in 2007 was 30 to 39 years, but in 2008, the 50 to 59 year old category was second highest, accounting for 20.1 percent of incapacitating and fatal injuries. The highest average annual growth rates in fatal and incapacitating injuries were in age groups over 50. Operators involved in crashes were improperly licensed about 49 percent of the time, and were not wearing a helmet about 65 percent of the time. Motorcyclists wearing helmets had reduced probabilities of serious injuries. The potential for a fatal or incapacitating injury increases by a factor of more than 2 when a motorcycle collision was alcohol-related.  

In the spring of 2007, The Traffic Safety division was awarded Section 2010 Funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement motorcycle safety programming in Indiana. These funds allowed for the purchase of training motorcycles to be used by students at rider training courses. Funds were also utilized to purchase two mobile classroom trailers in order to provide rider training courses in Indiana counties that were previously not equipped to host training. A paid media campaign was launched to remind Indiana motorists to be on the lookout for motorcycles.

Motorcycle Safety Resources

Motorcycle Summit Presentations

Related Links