(Bloomberg) -- Motorcyclists may be their own worst enemy on the road.
Insurer Progressive Corp. found that single-vehicle mishaps accounted for more motorcycle-related claims last year than any other event, the company said in a report Thursday. Mayfield Village, Ohio-based Progressive said it processed 3.5 times more of such claims than for rear-end crashes, the next-most common motorcycle incident.
“Excess speed is the most common rider-related factor in fatal motorcycle accidents,” Steve Carapia, a California Highway Patrol public information officer, said in a phone interview. Motorcyclists who drive too fast can’t identify and react to obstacles in the road, he said.
“They don’t give themselves enough time to maneuver around the object,” Carapia said. “Due to their speed, it’s hard to negotiate that hazard.”
Motorcyclists made up 14% of all vehicle-related fatalities in 2013, up from about 9% in 2004, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. In 2013, more than 32,000 people were killed and 2.3 million injured in U.S. motor-vehicle crashes.
Riding while intoxicated on alcohol or controlled substances is another leading cause of motorcycle accidents, Carapia said. California had the biggest share of motorcycles on the road in 2012, with more than 780,000 registered in the country’s most populous state, according to Federal Highway Administration data.
‘Extremely Vigilant’
“Progressive saw the most motorcycle claims from single vehicle accidents -— far more than rear-end, intersection, and stolen bikes combined,” Scott Hall, motorcycle product manager at the insurer, said in the report. “Even when other vehicles aren’t around, you need to be extremely vigilant on the open road.”
California provides classes to teach new and experienced riders about motorcycle safety, Carapia said. Progressive, the fourth-largest U.S., auto insurer, also covers vehicles including motorcycles, boats and golf carts.
Rear-end collisions accounted for the highest number of claims in car accidents in 2014, followed by single-vehicle incidents, according to Progressive’s report on autos. May and June were the busiest months, partly because of hail season.
There were more boat claims during the July 4th weekend than for any other three-day period last year, Progressive said. The company also found July to be the busiest for both motorcycle and boat claims, with customers taking advantage of long days and warm weather.
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