Tennessee Motorcycle Fatality Statistics
According to information recorded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tennessee reported 123 motorcycle fatalities in 2015. This number is up slightly from 2014 when there were 120. However, it is down from the two prior years. The highest years came earlier with 149 reported in 2007 and 146 in 2008.
Almost all of the victims were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Only 12 did not have on a helmet, and two were unknown. Tennessee has a universal helmet law, which means every rider must wear one when they ride no matter how old they are or how long they have been licensed.
Tennessee had a 90 percent helmet usage rate in 2015, which is approximately where it has been for several years. At the current rate, 66 lives were saved. At 100 percent usage, another five lives might have been saved.
In 2015, 35 victims were in the 50-59 age group, and 33 were between 20 and 29. The lowest number was in the under 20 age group with four fatalities.
Tennessee recorded 164,710 registered motorcycles in 2014. The fatality rate per 100,000 bikes was 72.86, which is down from the prior two years.
Around half of the counties in Tennessee reported at least one motorcycle death in 2015. Two counties reported between six and 15 while another two had between 16 and 25.
Shelby County, located on the southwestern edge of the state, reported 20 deaths for 2015. Davidson County came in second with 18 and is located in the northern part of the state. Montgomery County had eight for the year, which was close to prior years. Knox County, which is located on the opposite of the state, was in fourth place with seven for the year. The number was similar to previous years with no major changes.