Mid-Life Riders Online
Riding for Charity - Newfoundland & Labrador
View From My HandlebarsSeparating Fact from Fiction
By Mervyn House
Newfoundland
and Labrador . Once MLR Online receives the data and
statistics on motorcycle accidents which we have requested from Motor Vehicle Registration Division, MLR Online will provide the
second part of this Separating Fact and Fiction series.
Are there more motorcycles and motorcyclist on Newfoundland and Labrador's highways and byways?
Number of Registered Motorcycles
From 2004 to 2008, the total number of registered motorcycles in the province grew from 6283 motorcycles to 12293. This is an increase of more than 95 % in just 4 years. That is an unbelievable growth rate and stands to reason why people are noticing the increased number of motorcycles and motorcyclist in this province. It may also explain why we seem to think that more accidents are occurring.
Number of Class 5 licenses
Number of Class 6 Licenses
The number of class 6 licenses grew from 28321 in 2004 to 30838 in 2008, nearly a 9% increase. This statistic can suggest that many newly registered motorcycles in Newfoundland and Labrador over the past 5 years are a result of previous class 6 licensed riders purchasing motorcycles and getting back into the saddle again. Their love for riding motorcycle got the better of them I guess.
The percentage of class 6 licenses to class 5 licenses in Newfoundland and Labrador is 9.6% or 9.6 per 100 active drivers licenses. Although motorcyclist still account for a very small sector of the driving population, they are growing at a much faster rate as the numbers above suggest. Last year alone, Motor Vehicle Registration division administered 949 motorcycle road test. I guess it is no wonder people have to wait so long to get an appointment for their motorcycle road test.
How has gender affected these numbers?
The number of female class 6 licenses increased from 2284 in 2004 to 2941 in 2008. This is a 29% increase in just the last 4 years. During the same period, male class 6 licenses increased from 26037 to 27897 or just under an 8% increase. It is very interesting to see that females are taking up motorcycling at nearly 4 times the rate of their male counterparts in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is nice to see the ladies discover the joy of riding motorcycles, girl power indeed.
The statistics indicate beyond any doubt that the popularity of motorcycle riding is increasing rapidly, moreover with the female population. Could these increases also explain why it is generally accepted that accidents involving motorcycles are also on the rise. Is this really the case? The real truth will be reveled in the second part of this Separating Fact for Fiction series.
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As many
of you know, I do like to share my thoughts and opinions on motorcycles and
motorcycle life but from time to time I like to base these opinions and
positions on irrefutable, hard core facts. I am a statistics junkie and more
often than not, I too am surprised by what these statistics sometimes reveal.
No matter where I ride in this province, I hear riders talking about how
more and more people are taking up motorcycling and the increased number of
motorcycles that are cruising the roads of Newfoundland and Labrador. Well, let us take
a closer look and separate the fact from fiction by providing you with the true
numbers.
Are there more motorcycles and motorcyclist on Newfoundland and Labrador's highways and byways?
Number of Registered Motorcycles
2004---------6283
2005---------7820
2006---------8786
2007---------10218
2008---------12293
From 2004 to 2008, the total number of registered motorcycles in the province grew from 6283 motorcycles to 12293. This is an increase of more than 95 % in just 4 years. That is an unbelievable growth rate and stands to reason why people are noticing the increased number of motorcycles and motorcyclist in this province. It may also explain why we seem to think that more accidents are occurring.
Number of Class 5 licenses
2004---------315,122
2005---------314,795
2006---------313,632
2007---------315,045
2008---------319,016
Number of Class 6 Licenses
2004------------28321
2005------------28569
2006------------28893
2007------------29546
2008------------30838
The number of class 6 licenses grew from 28321 in 2004 to 30838 in 2008, nearly a 9% increase. This statistic can suggest that many newly registered motorcycles in Newfoundland and Labrador over the past 5 years are a result of previous class 6 licensed riders purchasing motorcycles and getting back into the saddle again. Their love for riding motorcycle got the better of them I guess.
The percentage of class 6 licenses to class 5 licenses in Newfoundland and Labrador is 9.6% or 9.6 per 100 active drivers licenses. Although motorcyclist still account for a very small sector of the driving population, they are growing at a much faster rate as the numbers above suggest. Last year alone, Motor Vehicle Registration division administered 949 motorcycle road test. I guess it is no wonder people have to wait so long to get an appointment for their motorcycle road test.
How has gender affected these numbers?
The number of Class 6 (females)
2004---------2284
2005---------2350
2006---------2467
2007---------2651
2008---------2941
The number of female class 6 licenses increased from 2284 in 2004 to 2941 in 2008. This is a 29% increase in just the last 4 years. During the same period, male class 6 licenses increased from 26037 to 27897 or just under an 8% increase. It is very interesting to see that females are taking up motorcycling at nearly 4 times the rate of their male counterparts in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is nice to see the ladies discover the joy of riding motorcycles, girl power indeed.
The statistics indicate beyond any doubt that the popularity of motorcycle riding is increasing rapidly, moreover with the female population. Could these increases also explain why it is generally accepted that accidents involving motorcycles are also on the rise. Is this really the case? The real truth will be reveled in the second part of this Separating Fact for Fiction series.
The statistics above were provided to MLR by the Newfoundland and Labrador's Motor Vehicle Registration division.
Mervyn HouseMLR Online
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