New accident stats show large decrease

The latest road accident statistics have been released and they have shown a 9% drop in motorcyclists killed on the UK roads in 2012.

The stats for 2012 are the most up-to-date available and they show 328 motorcycle users killed; a 9% decrease compared to 2011 and a 40% decrease compared to the average number killed per year from 2005 to 2009.

The total number of users reported as injured also decreased, with 5000 serious injuries (a decrease of 5% on 2011) and 13,982 fewer serious injuries (a decrease of 4%).

It should be remembered 2012 was the second wettest year on record and overall motorcycle traffic dropped by around 2%.

The majority of motorcyclist fatalities (70%) took place on rural roads, with motorway accidents accounting for only 1% of motorcyclist fatalities and 2% of serious injuries.

Of accidents involving injury 69% of all accidents involving a motorcyclist took place at a junction, the vast majority of accidents involved one other vehicle (70%), with the other vehicle involved was in 79% of cases a car.

The most common reason for accidents caused by car drivers was by failing to look properly (24%), whereas apart from bus and coach drivers, motorcyclists were the road users least likely to cause an accident for the same reason (16%).