Over half of all collisions that led to over 560 motorcyclists being killed or seriously injured in Northern Ireland over four years were caused by the rider themselves, new data has shown.
There was a total of 566 motorcyclists who lost their lives or were seriously injured in a crash between 2020 and 2024.
This figure was 13% of all road users killed or seriously injured (KSI) in that period.
Previously released PSNI data had shown that in the 2020 to 2024 period, 51 motorcyclists were killed on the roads.
The new Department for Infrastructure (DfI) figures show that 52% of KSI collisions involving motorbikes over the five years were the result of the motorcyclists themselves.
The biggest cause was “inattention or attention diverted” by bikers, which led to a total 67 KSI collisions, while just 10 KSIs in this category were not the rider’s fault.
“Overtaking on offside without care” was another major fault by bikers, leading to 54 out of 64 total KSIs caused by this error.
The biggest dangers for motorcyclists that were the fault of other vehicle drivers were “turning right without care” and “emerging from minor road without care”.
For KSI collisions which only involved a motorcycle and no other vehicles (25% of the overall total), inattention or diverted attention remained the largest cause by far, at 31%, while “excessive speed having regard to conditions” the second largest at 8%.
Meanwhile, the highest rate of serious collisions over the five years, based on population size, occurred in the Newry, Mourne and Down area, with Mid Ulster having the lowest rate.
However, Belfast city centre had by far the highest number of motorcycle KSI crashes, 46, within a 2.5km radius over the four years.
Belfast city centre is a hot spot for serious motorcycle collisions
Yet overall, rural roads prove the most dangerous for bikers, as they were where 51% of all KSI collisions involving motorcycles occurred.
Of the motorcycle crashes that involve fatalities, 65% happened on rural roads.
Unsurprisingly, 95% of motorcyclists involved in KSI collisions were men, and the crashes involving all bikers were most likely to happen on a Saturday.
The data was released less than a week after the latest fatal crash that claimed the life of a motorcyclist.
Rider Michael McKenna (39), a father-of-two from Co Cavan, died in a single vehicle collision on the Marble Arch Road in Fermanagh last Sunday morning.
He had attended an annual bikers’ memorial mass dedicated to deceased riders across Ireland, just days before in Clones, Co Monaghan.
Last Monday, the Charity Air Ambulance rescued a rider and transferred them to hospital after their motorbike had fallen down a ravine beside Slievenaman Road in the Mourne Mountain area.
The PSNI’s head of road policing, Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, said motorcyclists are 125 times more likely to be killed or injured in a collision than car drivers.
“To drivers we urge you to be especially mindful at junction points and remember to take another look before emerging onto a road,” she said.
“Be alert for motorcyclists on the road – careless driving is one of the most significant causes of collisions and just a moment of inattention can result in a serious crash.
“To motorcyclists, please driver carefully. Drive to suit the weather conditions and always be aware of and respect other road users. If you’re taking the bike out for the first time in a while ensure your motorcycle and safety equipment are in good working order. Take the time to bike safely, to protect you and all other road users.”
Figures released this week by theshow