July Most Dangerous Month for Motorcycle Crashes According to Progressive Claims Data

The summer travel season is peak time for passionate motorcycle riders and after a brutal winter, they’re anxious to make the most of every mile. If fact, more motorcycle riders are hitting the road than ever before with new motorcycle sales up more than eight percent through the first quarter, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. In light of that growth, Progressive Insurance set out to see what useful information could be found by analyzing its own motorcycle claims data from the last year.

Progressive’s 2014 motorcycle claims data revealed that:

• Four of the top 10 days with the highest claims for Progressive motorcycle customers fall in June.
• Summer months – June, July and August – are when most motorcycle accidents happen, and Saturdays are the most dangerous days to ride. In fact, the top five days of the year with the most motorcycle claims are all Saturdays throughout the summer.
• July is one of the most dangerous months for motorcycle riders, with the average number of claims being 78 percent higher in that month than the average for the rest of the year.
• In 2014, there were more single-vehicle motorcycle claims than any other type. Progressive data shows there were more single-vehicle claims than the next three types put together which include rear-end accidents, intersection accidents and stolen motorcycles.

“Riders and drivers should always be alert when driving, and summer holidays require even more vigilance,” said Scott Hall, Progressive’s motorcycle product manager. “While many motorcycle accidents can involve other vehicles, most are single-vehicle incidents, which is something motorcycle riders should be aware of. This winter was absolutely brutal on roadways across the country, so looking ahead for potholes and leaving plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you will help avoid accidents.”

Source: Progressive