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What time of day is deadliest for motorcycle riders?

On Behalf of | May 25, 2023 | Motorcycle Accidents

Now that spring has come to the Pittsburgh area, Butler’s motorcycle riders will be taking their bikes out of the garage and onto the highways. Warmer weather and ice-free roads mean that it’s safe to ride again — at least, as safe as it ever is.

Unfortunately, no matter how much riding experience you have or how careful you are on your motorcycle, no rider can completely protect themselves from dangerous drivers. Drunk drivers, distracted drivers, speeders, tailgaters, road ragers and others are out there, and riders are especially vulnerable in a collision with one of them.

The worst time of day for motorcycle deaths

A major motorcycle crash with a larger four-wheeled vehicle can happen anytime. But some days and times of day can be especially dangerous. Statistics show that about 26 percent of fatal motorcycle collisions occur on weekdays between 3 and 6 pm. A total of 1,263 weekday riders died during that time period in 2020. The 6-9 pm window is the second deadliest with 1,223 fatalities. For weekends, the 6-9 pm period had the most fatal accidents, with 676 deaths.

This timeline is in line with general overall traffic safety, as the same time period is one of the most deadly for all vehicles. Some of the reasons behind this spike include glare from the sun in winter and fall months, drivers leaving happy hours and general congestion.

No excuse for negligence on the road

It could be the high volume of evening commute traffic plus glare and shadows from the setting sun contribute to these tragic figures. However, conditions like these are not an excuse for causing a motorcycle wreck. They are reasons to slow down and be extra careful when changing lanes, merging or making a turn.

Motorcycles don’t have seatbelts, airbags or crumple zones like cars, trucks and SUVs do. A crash puts riders at great risk of serious bodily harm that could rob them of their ability to work, their independence and quality of life. If you or a loved one have experienced an accident involving a motorcycle, contact us immediately to be certain your rights are protected.

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