The Swedish motorcycists’ organization SMC has published a report on motorcycle fatalities caused by extreme behaviour by people that are difficult to reach and influence with traditional road safety measures.

According to studies conducted in Sweden the vast majority of motorcyclists are safety conscious. They don’t take unnecessary risks and they enjoy riding a motorcycle. To have a valid driving license when riding a motorcycle is a matter of course for motorcyclists.

However, regarding fatalities among drivers of motorcycles in Sweden we see the same four factors occurring again and again – riding without a license, riding under the influence, aggressive riding, and high speed combined with reckless riding. SMC has chosen to group these factors under the label ‘extreme behaviour’.

The total number of motorcycle accidents is declining but fatal accidents containing one or more of these factors are increasing. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the problem of extreme behaviour is mainly about the group lacking a driving license. This group is difficult to reach and influence with traditional road safety measures.

And there is more. In Sweden, many of those killed while riding without a license did not own the motorcycle they were killed on. The bike was often not registered and/or not insured, and therefore not permitted to be driven on the road.

Click here to read the full report.