New Mexico Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), New Mexico reported a total of 298 traffic fatalities for 2015. The state has a rate of 14.29 per 100,000 population for the year as compared to the US average of 10.92. Of the total, 38 were motorcycle deaths, which is 13 percent. The number was a significant decrease from 2014 when 46 were reported. The total for 2015 was the lowest in the past ten-year period.
Unfortunately, only about half of the riders who died in crashes were wearing helmets. New Mexico has a state law, which requires riders age 17 and younger to wear a helmet whenever they are riding on a motorcycle. However, there is no law for those who are 18 and older. Nineteen riders were wearing helmets when they crashed while 18 did not have one on. This is an improvement over the previous year when only nine wore helmets, and 35 did not wear one. For 2015, 51 percent had on a helmet, up from 2014 when it was 20 percent. If 100 percent of riders wore a helmet, another 12 lives could have been saved in 2015.
People of all ages are victims of motorcycle crashes with eight people between the ages of 20-29, another eight between 30-39, and eight between 40-49 being killed in a motorcycle accident for 2015. Only those age 20 and younger had no fatalities for the year.
Approximately half of the counties in New Mexico report at least one motorcycle death for 2015 with two counties reporting more than six. Bernalillo County reported 11 motorcycle-related deaths for the year, which was a slight increase from the previous year. Dona Ana County came in second with six for the year, which was double the number reported in 2014.