Motorcycle rider age and risk of fatal injury - key findings

• Fatalities among riders aged 17 and over decreased by around 6 per cent between1991 and 2001 while over the same period fatalities among riders 40 years and over increased by 77 per cent.


• Fatalities among riders 40 years and over as a proportion of all rider fatalities, increased from 14 per cent in 1991 to 27 per cent in 2001.


• The popularity of motorcycling appears to be increasing significantly among the 40 years and over age group.


• Despite the significant increase in older rider fatalities, the risk of fatal injury to motorcycle riders per distance travelled is still significantly higher among younger riders.


• Motorcycle riders are around 29 times more likely to be fatally injured than operators of other vehicles travelling the same distance.