Comparison of Severity of Motorcyclist Injury by Crash Types

The purpose of this study was to examine statewide motorcycle crash data from the state of Ohio to identify those factors most strongly associated with the level of injury sustained by motorcyclists involved in crashes. The year 2009 marked the first time since 1997 that Ohio experienced fewer motorcycle fatalities than in the previous year; this result was consistent with national trends over this same period. Since anecdotal evidence suggested that much of this result was due to decreases in motorcycle travel, an investigation of rider, crash, and environmental factors that influenced injury severity was an important step toward sustaining this reduction. The effects of such factors in various types of motorcycle crashes were compared. Multinomial logit models were developed for single-vehicle and multivehicle motorcycle crashes at both intersection and nonintersection locations. The results showed that the impacts of relevant crash factors varied by crash type and location and that severe injuries were more likely when high speed or alcohol was involved. Collisions with fixed objects and high-impact crashes, such as angle and head-on collisions, also produced dramatic increases in injury severity. Helmet use continued to provide the most promising means of reducing severe and fatal injuries in all types of crashes. Helmet use was found to reduce the likelihood of injury by 34.4% in single-vehicle crashes and between 12.4% and 14.1% in multivehicle crashes.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2265-08
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Comparison+of+Severity+of+Motorcyclist+Injury+by+Crash+Types&author=W.+Schneider&author=P.+Savolainen&publication_year=2011
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166819.aspx
• Authors:
  • Schneider IV, William H
  • Savolainen, Peter T
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 70-80
• Monograph Title: Highway and Traffic Safety: Vehicles, Behavior, and Roundabouts
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2265
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash injuries; Crash locations; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Frontal crashes; Injury severity; Motorcycle crashes; Motorcycle helmets; Multiple vehicle crashes; Single vehicle crashes; Speed
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01334325
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309223027
• Report/Paper Numbers: 11-2019
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 28 2011 11:37AM