Wisconsin Motorcycle Fatality Statistics
There was a total of 81 motorcycle fatalities in Wisconsin during 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This total was up from the 73 reported in 2014. However, it is down from the years prior to that. The highest number of deaths were recorded in 2012 with 117.
Most of the victims in these accidents were not wearing their helmets. In fact, only 15 did so while 65 did not have one on and one more was unknown. Wisconsin does have a helmet law, which requires all riders 17 years old and younger to wear helmets. Even those with a learner’s permit must also wear a helmet when they ride.
The state had a 19 percent helmet usage rate in 2015, which is slightly lower than previous years. Nine lives were saved, and another 24 might have been saved if the rate went up to 100 percent.
The majority of victims in 2015 were in the 50-59 age group with 21. Another 18 who died were over age 59. Only one death involved a victim under the age of 21.
Wisconsin recorded 281,151 motorcycle registrations in 2014. This number is down from the previous year when there were over 300,000. The fatality rate per 100,000 was 25.96 also down from previous years.
Around half the counties in Wisconsin reported one or more motorcycle-related fatalities. Only three counties recorded more than five in 2015. Both of these counties were located in the southern part of the state. Dane County reported six for the year, which was up slightly from the five recorded in 2013 and 2014.
Racine County also had six deaths, which was double the three recorded the previous year. Milwaukee County came in with the highest number, over twice as many as any other county with 15. This number was up slightly from the previous year with 12.