Roadway Factors Associated with Motorcycle Crashes

Increases in registered motorcycles and related crashes and fatalities were observed in recent years in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as it was the case for the United States and several European countries. Although road crashes are strongly dependent on human behavior, the effects of the roadway design, condition, and environment cannot be just ignored, particularly for motorcycles crashes. The risk of crash and the potential for higher severity once a crash happens is certainly higher for motorcycles than for other types of motor vehicles. This paper focuses on the evaluation of road information and motorcycle crash data to identify roadway design elements that are significantly associated with motorcycle crashes. The study performed a road inspection process of 39 road segments and employed the use of correlation, ANOVA, and multiple regression analyses. In addition, a survey of motorcycle riders was performed to identify their perception about the relation between the roadway condition and motorcycle safety. The study results indicate that the main roadway elements associated with motorcycle crash rates are the cross-section type and width, the intersection density, the posted speed limit, the presence of on street parking, pavement defects, and residential developments. These roadway elements and conditions can be targeted on new road construction and roadway improvement projects, in which motorcycles are considered in the road design. Establishing effective road maintenance practices that focus on these particular roadway elements can alleviate the problem of motorcycle crashes.

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Medina, Alberto M Figueroa
  • Soto, Juan C Torrens
• Conference:
  • Moving Toward Zero. 2011 ITE Technical Conference and Exhibit
  • Location: Lake Buena Vista FL, United States
  • Date: 2011-4-3 to 2011-4-6
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: n.p.
• Monograph Title: Moving Toward Zero. 2011 ITE Technical Conference and Exhibit

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis of variance; Crash risk forecasting; Fatalities; Highway design; Highway maintenance; Human factors in crashes; Motorcycle crashes; Motorcycle driving; Regression analysis; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road conditions
• Geographic Terms: Puerto Rico
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01342782
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 23 2011 9:07AM