Arizona’s weather makes it a wonderful place to ride your motorcycle nearly year-round. However, Arizona state motorcycle accident statistics demonstrate that some months are more perilous for motorcyclists than others.
While it’s important to pay attention to safety every time you ride, knowing when accidents are more likely to occur can also help you plan your rides more carefully. Here’s what you need to know about when and where to ride in Arizona to reduce your chances of becoming another statistic.
1.There’s a big decrease in roadway crashes in these two months.
In 2017, the months of June and July saw significantly fewer roadway accidents than the rest of the year. June and July 2017 were the only two months in which fewer than 10,000 total accidents occurred. Of the two, July was the safest, with 9,033 accidents to June’s 9,157.
Which day of the week should you ride during these summer months? Statistically, fatal crashes are most common in Arizona on Fridays, and lowest on Monday.
2.Motorcycle accident rates have gone down, but fatalities are going up.
In 2017, 2,907 motorcyclists were involved in accidents on Arizona roads, a decrease from 2016. The rate of injuries dropped too, with 2017’s total of 2,413 representing a significant decrease from previous years.
The numbers aren’t all good news, however. Deaths in motorcycle crashes have been rising steadily in Arizona since 2014, and 2017 saw 161 bikers lose their lives on the state’s roads.
3.Motorcycle accidents are more likely to occur – and more likely to be fatal – in urban areas.
Maricopa County saw the most auto accidents overall in 2017, as well as the most motorcycle accidents and the most roadway deaths and injuries. By contrast, Greenlee and Santa Cruz Counties had the fewest accidents, injuries, and deaths for both motorcyclists and motorists in 2017.
4.Weather conditions and time of day matter too.
Statistically, accidents of all kinds are most likely to occur during daylight hours, when more people are on the road. When adjusted for number of vehicles present, however, statistics indicate that motorcyclists face the most risk on the road at night, followed by dawn and dusk.
Rain also plays a significant factor in many accidents, with the number of accidents in wet weather topping 3,000 in Arizona in 2017. By contrast, hail, snow, severe crosswinds, dust storms, and smoke each accounted for fewer than 100 total accidents. Cloudy weather was associated with 9,517 crashes.
5.No time of the day, week, month, or year is totally safe for motorcyclists.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (AZDOT) estimates that on average, 2.74 people die every day on Arizona roads. That’s one life lost every 8 hours and 6 minutes. For motorcyclists, the total rate of accidents is about 7.9 accidents per day, with a life lost about every other day.
Of course, accidents don’t space themselves out evenly over the course of a year. That’s why knowing which months, days, and times of day offer a lower accident rate can help Arizona motorcyclists make more informed plans about their rides.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.
The motorcycle attorneys at the Folger Law Firm are dedicated to helping our clients seek the compensation they need. We work on a contingency basis, so you won’t pay fees unless we recover for you.
Contact us today to learn more.