Facts & Figures
Essex is a great County for motorcycling and has a strong resident biking population. There is a tremendous amount to enjoy whilst biking on the roads of Essex. Unfortunately however, the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured (KSI) on the roads of Essex is too high. Bikes account for just 0.8% of the traffic on Essex’s roads yet they are involved in 26% of road traffic collisions resulting in death or serious injury
This section aims to provide some key facts and figures concerning motorcycle KSIs in Essex.
According to the Essex Police the KSI statistics for powered two wheelers in Essex for the last 9 years are as follows:
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killed | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
| Seriously Injured | 148 | 197 | 188 | 252 | 180 |
| Total KSI | 152 | 203 | 197 | 263 | 189 |
| Proportion of all KSI | 21% | 26% | 25% | 26% | 22% |
Since 2007, 2,275 motorcyclists have been killed or seriously injured on the roads of Essex. Between 2013 and 2017 the number of KSIs have increased by 24.3%. Furthermore, in that same three-year period, the number of motorcycle fatalities have increased by 125%.
The number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on the roads of Essex is too high and they remain the highest road user risk group disproportionate to any other road user group.
Essex County Fire AND Rescue Service monitors a wealth of KSI statistical data to inform motorcycle safety activities. Data analysis for the period January to August 2016 shows that 92% of riders who were at fault in a KSI collision, can be put into one of four main categories:
- Aged 31-60 on bikes with 500cc+ engines (37%) – “Established riders”
- Aged 16-28 on bikes with engines no more than 125cc (23%) – “Young riders”
- Aged 21-30 on bikes with 500cc+ engines (16%) – “Young leisure bikers”
- Aged 30+ on bikes with engines smaller than 500cc (16%) – “Adult riders”
It can be seen that motorcycle fatalities have reduced by 77% between 2007 and 2014, and serious injuries have fallen by 26.5%. These are significant reductions, which have also been achieved against the general backdrop of increasing motorcycle ownership.
However not with standing those statistics, the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on the roads of Essex is still too high and they remain the highest road user risk group. Between 2013 and 2014 the total number of fatalities and serious injuries increased by 33.5%.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service monitors a wealth of KSI statistical data to inform motorcycle safety activities. The data shows the following high risk groups:-
(i) Young, predominatly male riders between the age of 16 and 25, riding machines of 125cc and below.
(ii) Riders of larger motorcycles of 500cc and above, between the ages 25 and 35.
(iii) Riders of larger motorcycles above 500cc between the ages of 40 and 55 years.
Motorcycle KSI collisions occur most frequently on roads with 30mph, 40mph and 60mph limits, and in predominantly dry conditions.