Maine Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics
For 2015, Maine reported 156 traffic fatalities, according to a report from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of this number, 32 were motorcycle deaths. This total represents the highest number per year over a ten-year period and is a significant increase from 2014, which reported 11 fatalities.
The state rate of traffic deaths per 100,000 population is slightly higher than the national average. Maine’s rate is 11.74 as compared to 10.92 for the US average in 2015. Maine motorcycle fatal accidents have remained in the mid to low 20s or even teens until 2015. The lowest point was in 2014 with 2013 showing a slightly higher total of 14.
Only eight people who were killed in a bike crash were wearing their helmets. Another 24 did not have on a helmet at the time of the crash. These statistics show only 25 percent of those who died wore a helmet. State law in Maine requires only those under age 18 to wear a helmet when riding or driving a motorcycle. At the current rate of usage, five lives have been saved through wearing helmets. However, if the rate of usage increased to 100 percent, another nine lives would have been saved for 2015.
The majority of people who died in 2015 from a motorcycle crash were either between the ages of 20 and 29 with eight deaths or between the ages of 50 and 59 with another eight deaths. Seven people between the ages of 40 and 49 died in 2015, and five were over the age of 59 and one was younger than 21. Three people died who were between 30 and 39.
At least one motorcycle fatality happened in almost every county in Maine in 2015. However, none of the counties showed more than five deaths for this time period.