Crashing alone is referred to as a single-vehicle accident in the crash studies—and the percentage of single-vehicle crashes is staggering. These solo crashes can take many forms, from going wide in a turn, to locking up your rear tire and triggering a lowside or highside crash.

News flash. It doesn’t have to be this way.

According to a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2021, some 38% of motorcyclist fatalities occurred in single-vehicle crashes—where no other human, animal, or vehicle was involved in (or caused) the crash.¹

Think about this statistic until it sinks in. Let me say it another way.

When I started riding, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t crash by myself for one year. I figured I should be able to influence this.

The concept was surprisingly empowering, and it led me to make the mental connection that I could change my chances of crashing. 

Instead of accepting the notion that I was just as likely as any other rider to crash at any moment, I was determined to cut my chances by making sure I didn’t do anything stupid.

If I’m honest, part of my motivation was that I didn’t want to have to tell my motorcycle mentors I messed up and crashed all by myself.

Fifteen years later, I still have the same mindset I did back when I started. I make it a priority to do everything I can NOT to crash alone—and it starts with understanding why riders crash.  

I challenge you to make the same commitment. 

Crashing alone is for the low-information rider who doesn’t want to be bothered by the data that shows us how we’re killing ourselves. Don’t be that rider.

1. motorcyclesmarts.com/note1

* A portion of this article is an excerpt from my book Motorcycle Hacks.