Interestingly enough, there was a brief article related to this topic at Wired News today...
Motorcycle fatalities are on the rise, prompting federal officials to push for better training programs, tougher enforcement of mandatory helmet laws and making car and truck drivers more aware of motorcyclists. The statistics are sobering: 2,472 bikers were killed in 1999, the largest number of fatalities since 1991. For every 100 million miles traveled, an average of 36.5 motorcyclists were killed, compared to a mere 1.9 drivers on four wheels. The two biggest causes of motorcycle-related deaths remain unchanged: speeding and drinking.