Never Crash Alone: Because When You Do It’s Usually Your Fault
written by David Mixson
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.
Every rider should get excited about this data. It proves we can reduce our risks by taking care of our own business. Hogwash to those who say they can’t change their odds of crashing. The data proves you’re wrong.
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.
* A portion of this article is an excerpt from my book Motorcycle Hacks.
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David Mixson writes about the topics other motorcycle books gloss over. He worked as a NASA engineer for over thirty years and is the author of three books.
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