Florida is home to sunny days and warm evenings, which is part of the reason why motorcyclists love to go to the state. There are interesting motorcycling events and groups that travel to the area to enjoy the beautiful beaches and scenery.
Unfortunately, the number of motorcyclist fatalities have been on the rise throughout the state in the 2000s. Between 2000 and 2008, injuries nearly doubled along with the number of crashes that took place. For a short time in 2009 and 2010, the number of injuries, fatalities, and crashes were reduced, but once again, a rise was shown between 2011 and 2013.
In 2001, studies show that motorcyclist fatalities made up around 8 percent of all the fatalities related to traffic accidents in Florida. By 2010, the number of fatalities reached 15.7 percent. In 2013, that number jumped to 19.2 percent. That’s a jump of over 100 percent in just a little over a decade.
So, what are the problems contributing to so many accidents? Age is a factor for many crashes, but it’s not the main issue. Those age 55 or older made up around 20 percent of all motorcycle crashes in 2013. Those between 15 and 24 make up around 22.7 percent of the crashes, and 20.3 percent involve people between the ages of 25 and 34.
While it’s true that Florida is popular as a tourist destination, a shocking 91 percent of the motorcyclist fatalities in 2013 involved Florida residents. By 2009, 37 percent of the crashes involved alcohol. Another factor that plays a significant role is the number of distracted drivers on the roads. Motorcyclists have few protections against accidents with cars, putting them at risk of injury and death.
Source: Ride Smart Florida, “Ride Smart Florida / Motorist Awareness Data and Statistics,” accessed June 22, 2015
