Statistical analysis of motorcyclists' perceived accident risk

Motorcycling is generally recognized as a relatively risky activity, but surprisingly little is known about motorcyclists' perception of this risk. This paper presents a survey of motorcyclists' perceived likelihood of being involved in an accident and a statistical analysis of the factors determining this likelihood. Our results show that motorcyclists have a reasonable grasp of the factors that increase the likelihood of accident involvement. These factors include exposure (miles ridden), regularly riding above the speed limit, and passing vehicles on the shoulder or passing between lanes of traffic. The findings suggest that motorcycle accidents are, for the most part, not the result of misjudgments about the overall risk of motorcycling.