MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS - AN EPIDEMIC

THE GROWTH IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF GROWTH IN NUMBERS AND USE OF THESE VEHICLES. THE SURVEY INDICATES THAT THE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT SITUATION IS SERIOUS, GROWING AND EPIDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE MOTORCYCLE IS THE MOST DEADLY VEHICLE OPERATING ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY. IT IS UNSTABLE AND COMPLETELY EXPOSES THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO THE INJURIOUS FORCES OF COLLISION. THE FATALITY RATE IS 11.5 FATALITIES PER 10,000 VEHICLES, WHICH IS 2.7 TIMES AS GREAT AS THE RATE FOR ALL MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. RESEARCH IN GREAT BRITAIN HAS SHOWN THAT, PER MILE DRIVEN: (1) THE CHANCE OF A CYCLIST BEING KILLED IS 20 TIMES THAT OF A CAR DRIVER, (2) A PASSENGER ON A MOTORCYCLE HAS AN EVEN GREATER CHANCE OF BEING KILLED THAN THE CYCLIST, (3) THE PERSONAL INJURY RATE IS ABOUT FOUR TIMES THAT OF CARS, AND (4) CYCLISTS WITH LESS THAN SIX MONTHS' EXPERIENCE HAVE AN ACCIDENT RATE DOUBLE THAT OF THE MORE EXPERIENCED. SALES TRENDS INDICATE INCREASING SALES OF NEW VEHICLES. RELIEF IS ADVOCATED THROUGH STRONG ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS SUCH AS DRIVER LICENSING SPECIFICALLY FOR MOTORCYCLE DRIVING, ELIMINATION OF PASSENGERS, STRONG INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND OTHER MEASURES TO REDUCE USAGE AND INCREASE RESPONSIBILITY.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1967/188/188-006.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • O'Mara, John J
• Publication Date: 1967

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 80-89
• Monograph Title: Traffic accident research
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 188
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Crash severity; Driver licensing; Fatalities; Injuries; Insurance; Law enforcement; Motorcycles; Traffic crashes
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220392
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-000 708
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 23 1994 12:00AM