Indiana Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Indiana reported a total of 821 traffic fatalities for 2015 with 108 of those involving a motorcycle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The state of Indiana is above the national average for rate of deaths per 100,000. Indiana’s rate is 12.40 as compared to 10.92 for the national average.
Driving a motorcycle carries an increased risk of death in an accident, especially when the person does not wear a helmet. Out of those deaths recorded in 2015, 79 fatalities were reported not to be wearing a helmet. This means only 18 percent of the people were wearing a helmet. At the current level, only 11 lives were saved during the year from helmet use. If everyone wore a helmet, that total would jump to 33 lives. In Indiana, riders age 17 and younger are required by law to wear a helmet.
The number of motorcycle-related fatalities was down from previous years. For instance, in 2014 there were 124 deaths, which was an increase from 115 in 2013 but a significant decrease from 152 in 2012. The majority of drivers were either in the 20-29 or 50-59 age range. There were 24 deaths with riders between the ages of 20-29 while 28 people were killed who were between the ages of 50-59. Only 11 people died over the age of 59 and four deaths were of people under the age of 20. Approximately half of those fatal traffic accidents involved alcohol with 276 of 542 tested for 2015. The numbers are similar with surviving motorcycle and other vehicles showing 347 testing positive out of 621.
Over half of the counties in Indiana reported at least one fatality involving a motorcycle. The majority of those reported five or fewer with five counties reporting between 6 and 15.