New Study on Causes of Motorcycle Crash

[Buzz Kanter]

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A significant new motorcycle crash causation study will soon get under way at Oklahoma State University (OSU), the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports. Formally announced by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on Oct. 5, the study will give motorcyclists and others concerned with highway safety a fuller picture of how motorcycles fit into today's traffic mix, a better understanding of what causes motorcycle crashes, and insights into the best strategies to prevent these crashes.

"The announcement that the full study will now begin is great news," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "While the study will take years to complete, it promises to offer up information that will allow for the creation of effective countermeasures to make the roads safer for all of us."

The last major motorcycle crash study, called "Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures," commonly known as the Hurt Report (named after lead researcher Harry Hurt), was published in 1981. It provided a wealth of data that has been used to develop training and strategies to help keep riders safer on the road. In the decades since, the traffic environment has changed enormously, prompting the AMA to begin campaigning for a new study several years ago.

"There is certainly a lot more traffic now than when Harry Hurt and his team did their research," Moreland said. "SUVs didn't exist back then, and motorcycles have advanced light years in technology. On top of that, distracted driving poses a significant safety challenge. We will certainly learn a lot from this new study."

The FHWA is overseeing the OSU project, which will be administered at the Oklahoma Transportation Center, an independent and well-respected research facility in Stillwater. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a pilot study in the Southern California area to finalize the methodology for the comprehensive research study.

"OSU is delighted to be the lead research institution for this important study," said Dr. Alan Tree, associate dean for research in OSU's College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. "We expect very significant, scientifically valid results to emerge from this work, and look forward to a very positive final outcome."

In 2005, Congress approved the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, and the legislation called for the study. Lawmakers pledged $2.8 million for the research, and asked the motorcycling community to match it.

"In 2007, the AMA committed $100,000, and AMA members contributed an additional $27,000 in our Fuel the Fund campaign," Moreland said. "Since then, six state safety programs have pledged another $560,000. We hope that others in the motorcycling community will join us in supporting the crash study."

The FHWA said researchers would evaluate data from hundreds of motorcycle crashes to help identify common factors, including road configurations, environmental conditions and rider experience. The study's focus is to examine whether effectively implemented countermeasures might affect these factors and prevent motorcycle crashes or lessen the harm when they occur, officials said.

[Gas Man]

I heard about this before. I sure hope they can put some hard facts to some crazy ideas. Further, put some seperation in different styles of crashes. I know that when I rode sportbikes, it was every weekend that somebody went down. Rode with them again a week ago... somebody went down. Take a inexpierenced young guy, with "superman power", on one of these sportbikes, and it is jsut asking for more crashes.

Now I dont believe we are exempt. I find other differences. Most sportbike riders which are my generation won't drink and ride. However, in the cruiser class, I find that the bar hopping, and Rally's almost promote drinking and riding. This I'm sure increases the number of crashes.

Also, the differences in protective gear. A good number of sportbike guys wear full race leathers with DOT & SNELL approved helmets. Cruiser world revolves around no helmet or novelty helmets. Protection is second to looking cool.

I hope this study finds some of these differences and reports accordingly. Without that, the rules coming from the Fed Govt will be broad and restricting to the entire mc world.

[GOMO]

The number of accidents with younger riders and those over 45yrs of age are almost the same. Though the causes for younger riders may be a combination of several things including lack of skills, speed, pushing the edge, etc the older riders have their issue's as well. Drinking is noted to be higher with the older group, and the big one also being lack of skills. The "I know how to ride" thought process is killing them.

A combination of a bunch of recent studies show some alarming details. Almost 50% of the motorcycle accidents recorded are single vehicle accidents. This points the finger solely at the rider. Now out of the rest of the 50% that includes accidents with other vehcles, it is estimate that the rider is partially or totally at fault. That's about 75% of the accidents falling into the riders responsibility - THATS SCARY. If these numbers are true, it's not the cars we have to watch out for, it's ourselves.

The results of the new study will certainly being interesting, but one of my concerns is if the majority of riders will pay attenetion to the results.

[Whopper]

This is not directly related to GOMS's thread, but it is a safety issue...at least for me.

I was cruising home on the interstate after work last night, trying to beat the rain I knew was coming. My Sporty has a small windshield and behind it I wear a ¾ helmet with visor and face shield snapped to the three snaps on the helmet. Suddenly the face shield and visor parted company with my helmet. At first I thought my glasses had gone too but when I pulled over and stopped I realized they were bent and hanging from the right side of my helmet. I removed my helmet and found that one of the snaps had fatigued from the vibration caused by the wind buffeting the face shield and, when it gave up, the remaining two snaps couldn’t hold the visor and shield. I was bleeding from a small cut just under my left eye from either my glasses or the face shield.

Now that I think of it, it was foolish to think that those three sheet metal snaps, intended to support a visor, would hold up under the vibration and load of a face shield. This afternoon I purchased a new ¾ helmet with an integral face shield.