This Summer Was the Deadliest for Motorcyclists in Czechia in Six Years

This summer, 32 motorcyclists died on Czech roads — the highest number in at least six years, according to the country's traffic police. Motorcyclists accounted for nearly a third of all summer road fatalities, and more than 1,300 accidents involving motorcycles occurred during the season, 841 of which were caused by the riders themselves.

According to forensic accident analyst Aleš Vémola, motorcyclists remain far less protected than car drivers, while the number of motorcycles on the road keeps growing — they're affordable even for young, inexperienced riders.

Who Is Most at Risk

Although the youngest drivers are statistically the most frequent causes of accidents, this summer they came in only second place among the dead. The most vulnerable group turned out to be motorcyclists aged 45 to 54 — seven of them died.

Traffic police director Michal Chodboď explains this is less about how long someone has held a license and more about a lack of actual riding experience. "There are situations where a person decides, after years, to finally fulfill a dream — he's had a motorcycle license for ages, but gets on a bike for the first time in, say, twenty years," he said at a briefing at police headquarters.

He noted that riders need to prepare anew for each riding season and make sure to get back into practice — otherwise the risk rises sharply. Markéta Novotná, a road safety methodologist with the Team silniční bezpečnosti, adds that this scenario most often affects middle-aged men who used to ride years ago and can now finally afford the motorcycle of their dreams. "But their physical condition is no longer what it was at 25. It's not enough to get the bike itself into perfect shape — you also need to work on your own body, understand where you've gained weight, where you've lost it, and how that affects handling," she explained.

Speeding Is the Main Cause

According to traffic police data, the leading cause of fatal motorcycle accidents was inappropriate speed. Inattention while riding came second, followed by crossing into the oncoming lane.

The total number of summer traffic accidents in Czechia rose by 908 compared to last year. Besides the 32 motorcyclists, summer accidents claimed the lives of 25 car drivers, 17 passengers, 10 cyclists, and 9 pedestrians.

Among the tragic cases was the death of a twenty-year-old motorcyclist who ran off the road and hit a tree near Nová Olešná in the Jindřichův Hradec area in late August. Despite phone-guided resuscitation attempts and subsequent help from paramedics, he could not be saved. In early August, in Rumburk in the Děčín region, a motorcyclist was killed after crashing into an oncoming car turning at an intersection — rescuers' help was no longer needed, as he died on the spot.

Read also: 9 Best Cycling Routes Around Prague: From the Vltava Embankments to Karlštejn Castle

Source: novinky.cz