Motorcycle SafetyMotorcycle Safety
•FHWA•FHWA
–Motorcycle Crash Causation Study–Motorcycle Crash Causation Study
–Evaluation Design for Motorcycle SafetyCountermeasures–Evaluation Design for Motorcycle SafetyCountermeasures
–International Scan: Successful InfrastructureCountermeasures to Mitigate Motorcyclist Fatalities–International Scan: Successful InfrastructureCountermeasures to Mitigate Motorcyclist Fatalities
•NCHRP•NCHRP
–NCHRP 22-26: Factors Related to Serious Injury andFatal Motorcycle Crashes with Traffic Barriers–NCHRP 22-26: Factors Related to Serious Injury andFatal Motorcycle Crashes with Traffic Barriers
–NCHRP 08-81: Improving the Quality of MotorcycleTravel Data Collection–NCHRP 08-81: Improving the Quality of MotorcycleTravel Data Collection
–Domestic Scan–Domestic Scan
Motorcycle Fatalities (1996-2009)Motorcycle Fatalities (1996-2009)
Fatality Rate (1996-2008)Fatality Rate (1996-2008)
Number of Motorcyclists Killed Per 100 M VMT and 100,000Registered Motorcycles by Year (Source: FHWA/FARS)
2009 Motorcycle Fatality Results2009 Motorcycle Fatality Results
•4,462 Motorcyclists died in 2009•4,462 Motorcyclists died in 2009
•U.S. motorcycle fatalities represent13% of total highway fatalities•U.S. motorcycle fatalities represent13% of total highway fatalities
•Motorcycle related deaths weredown 16% in 2009•Motorcycle related deaths weredown 16% in 2009
•First drop in the past 11 years•First drop in the past 11 years
•Encouraging but not yet a trend•Encouraging but not yet a trend
International Motorcycle Safety Scan:Successful Infrastructure Countermeasures toMitigate Motorcyclist FatalitiesInternational Motorcycle Safety Scan:Successful Infrastructure Countermeasures toMitigate Motorcyclist Fatalities
September 10-26, 2010September 10-26, 2010
Sponsoring OrganizationsSponsoring Organizations
FEDERAL HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION
AASHTO
NCHRP
National CooperativeHighway Research Program
Represent various interests:Represent various interests:
–3 U.S. Department of Transportation–3 U.S. Department of Transportation
–4 State Departments of Transportation–4 State Departments of Transportation
–1 Academia–1 Academia
–3 Private Sector–3 Private Sector
–1 Report Facilitator–1 Report Facilitator
Live in different states:Live in different states:
Panel Members:Panel Members:
David A. Nicol, P.E.,Co-Chair, FHWA, Washington, DCDavid A. Nicol, P.E.,Co-Chair, FHWA, Washington, DC
Dennis W. Heuer, P.E., Co-Chair, Virginia DOTDennis W. Heuer, P.E., Co-Chair, Virginia DOT
Susan T. Chrysler, Ph.D., Report Facilitator,Susan T. Chrysler, Ph.D., Report Facilitator,
Texas Transportation InstituteTexas Transportation Institute
Carol Tan, Ph.D, FHWA, Turner-Fairbank Highway ResearchCenter, VirginiaCarol Tan, Ph.D, FHWA, Turner-Fairbank Highway ResearchCenter, Virginia
Jeff Kolb, P.E.,FHWA, New York DivisionJeff Kolb, P.E.,FHWA, New York Division
Nicholas J. Garber, Ph.D, University of Virginia, CharlottesvilleNicholas J. Garber, Ph.D, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Keith Cota, P.E., New Hampshire DOTKeith Cota, P.E., New Hampshire DOT
James (Jim) Baron, American Traffic Safety ServicesAssociationJames (Jim) Baron, American Traffic Safety ServicesAssociation
Edward Moreland, American Motorcyclist AssociationEdward Moreland, American Motorcyclist Association
Mark J. Bloschock, P.E., VRX Engineering, Inc.Mark J. Bloschock, P.E., VRX Engineering, Inc.
Melinda McGrath, P.E., Mississippi DOTMelinda McGrath, P.E., Mississippi DOT
Paul D. Degges, P.E., Tennessee DOTPaul D. Degges, P.E., Tennessee DOT
We Visited: We Visited:
Background:Background:
•The number and rate of motorcyclist deaths rose145% from 1996 to 2008
–Motorcycle vehicle miles of travel (VMT) is rising
–Motorcycle crash fatalities involving guardrails is rising
–Motorcycle fatalities have outpaced the rise inregistrations
–Greater need for effective and efficient enforcement
•Seeking Infrastructure, system operations andtraining improvements
USA 2009 Motorcycle Safety FactsUSA 2009 Motorcycle Safety Facts
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, Motorcycles, 2008 Data andSource: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, Motorcycles, 2008 Data and
NHTSA National Occupant Protection Use SurveyNHTSA National Occupant Protection Use Survey
•4,462 motorcyclists fatalities and 90,000 injuries•4,462 motorcyclists fatalities and 90,000 injuries
•35% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crasheswere speeding•35% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crasheswere speeding
•22% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crasheshad invalid licenses•22% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crasheshad invalid licenses
•36% of motorcyclists killed had a BAC > 0.08•36% of motorcyclists killed had a BAC > 0.08
•67% of motorcyclists wear helmets•67% of motorcyclists wear helmets
Purpose and Scope:Purpose and Scope:
•Review and Evaluate
–Cost effective options toimprove motorcycle safety
–Integrate motorcycle usageinto infrastructure designand operations
–Safety data collection andprograms
–Barrier design andfunctionality
–Maintenance practices
–Intersection operations
–Pavement treatments
Goal:Goal:
•To identify cost-effectiveinfrastructureimprovements to reducemotorcycle fatalities
•To identify design andsystem operationalactivities to reducemotorcycle fatalities
•Develop implementationstrategies
Topics of Interest:Topics of Interest:
•Infrastructure Improvements:
–Standards and Policies
–Work Zone Activities
–Maintenance Activities
–Traffic Control Device Design
and Placement
–Roadway Geometric Design
–Roadside Safety Design
–Pavement Design
–Intelligent Transportation Systems
Topics of Interest:Topics of Interest:
•Safety Data:
–Crash Patterns
–Data Management
•Research Activities
•Behavioral Safety and
Legal Issues
What We LearnedWhat We Learned
Rise in Riders = Lowering Fatality Rate
•Norway-Germany-Belgium: 12-15% of Fatalities
•France & England 28% and 19% of Fatalities
•Trend including Middle Aged Riders
•Purpose: Recreation vs Commuter
•Lane Splitting in Urban Areas
–Workzone Practices
•Close Area of Hazard
•No positive protection/separation
–Black Spot Evaluation with Follow-up
•DOT with Advocacy Groups
–Motorcycle Protective Barriers
•No Data to Support Benefits
•Belgium & France: Barrier Criteria Established
•France: Initiated Effectiveness Study (2012)
–Use of Cable Barriers
•Anecdotal Data in Support of Decisions
What We LearnedWhat We Learned
•Urban Traffic Management
–Motorcycle/Cycle Advance Box
•Holistic Approach
–Rider—Infrastructure—Machine
•Focus on Surface Improvements -Traction
–Pavement Markings
–Gap for Motorcycles
–Manhole Covers
–Steel Plates
•Strong Emphasis on RiderTraining
–Train the Trainer as well as Rider
–Graduated Licensing and Testing
•Power to Weight Ratio
–Age and Experience Based
–Expensive Pursuit
What We LearnedWhat We Learned
•Mandatory Helmet Laws
•Commonality of Crash Types
–Rural: Curves, Single PTWrun-off-the-road
–Urban: Intersections, OtherVehicle
•Highway Engineer Training inMotorcycle/InfrastructureConsiderations Needed
–Written guidance documentsfor road engineers
•Cooperation among AdvocacyOrganizations
–Filtering Process
What We LearnedWhat We Learned
Observation:
–% of Motorcycle Fatalities are similar to the US(except France & England)
–Data issues similar to US
