Virginia Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Virginia reported a total of 753 traffic deaths for 2015. The state has a rate of 8.98 per 100,000 population, which is below the national average of 10.92. Motorcycle fatalities account for ten percent of the total with 79 for the year. This number is quite a decrease from 2014 with 90.
Virginia has a state helmet law which requires everyone to wear a helmet when they ride regardless of age. For 2015, the state had a helmet usage of 96 percent, which has saved 45 lives. The number is down slightly from 99 percent that was the rate in 2014.
Motorcycle deaths were dispersed among the age groups with the 20-29 age bracket and the 50-59 age bracket accounting for 18 deaths each. In second place are the age ranges 30-39 and over 59 with 16 deaths apiece. Ten victims were between the ages of 40 and 49 and one person died who was under the age of 20.
About half of the counties in Virginia reported at least one motorcycle-related fatality but fewer than six. Two counties had more than six but fewer than 15 deaths. The majority of fatalities occurred on the eastern side of the state. Hampton County is a small county on the eastern tip of Virginia which reported six fatalities in 2015. This number tripled from 2014. Fauquier County also had six deaths for the year, which was up from zero for 2014 and one for 2013. The county also had only two deaths for 2011 and 2012. Fairfax County had three deaths by motorcycle while the city of Fairfax had none. Suffolk and York counties both had one fatality while Prince William reported three fatalities for the year, which was the same as the prior year.