Analysis of Motorcyclist Safety Data in Texas

Eva M Shipp, PhDCrash Analytics Team

Center for Transportation Safety

Today’s objectives

Project overview Selected preliminary

findings

Project goal

Understand crash complexity

Prioritize points for intervention

Prevent death & injury

Project Components

Crash database Detailed analyses

Part I: Crash database

• 2010 – forward • All crashes (all severities)• CRIS data

– Narratives

• Other sources

Part II: Statistical analysis

Detailed plan– 26 questions– Hurt Report– Beyond CRIS

• GIS (home/alcohol outlets)• Training / endorsement• Estimating VMT• At fault• Road geometry• Engine size

Selected preliminary findings

403 460 447 465 433 429

1,646 1,817 1,883 1,796 1,820 1,688

3,1783,608 3,748 3,410 3,273

3,017

1,512

1,7872,057

1,842 1,9471,668

1,031

1,0421,180

1,159 1,196

1,173

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLE OPERATORS IN CRASHES BY INJURY SEVERITY AND YEAR

Fatality Incapacitating Injury (A) Non-incapacitating Injury (B)Possible Injury (C) Non Injury Unknown Injury

Motorcycle registrations

5.11

5.25

5.05 5.10

4.92

4.70 4.80 4.90 5.00 5.10 5.20 5.30

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015RATE

PER

100

0 RE

GIST

RATI

ON

S

YEAR

Rate of Fatal & Incapacitating Injuries

445,395 443,856 448,399

442,483

431,505

400,000 410,000 420,000 430,000 440,000 450,000 460,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

NU

MBE

R

YEAR

Registered Motorcycles by Year

2015431,505 registrations 4.92/1000 registrations

Next: rates per VMT

Person type

Killed & Incapacitated9 operators to every 1

passenger

Helmet use & age

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%21-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

Under 21

UNKNOWN 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%21-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

Under 21

UNKNOWN

No helmet Helmet

Helmet use among operators & riders, all severities, 2015

More helmet users are young

Helmet use

Next: After accounting for other factors, is helmet useassociated with more severe injury?

51%46%

38%34% 33%

FATAL INCAP NON-INCAP POSSIBLE NO INJURY

Percentage of Operators & Riders Not Using a Helmet by Severity, 2015

Alcohol & helmet use

55%

27%

NEGATIVE ALCOHOL POSITIVE ALCOHOL

Percent of operators using helmets by alcohol result, 2015

Helmet use higher in non-drinkers

Alcohol

Next: How does alcohol interact with other factors to increase

crash severity?

45%55%

63%

76%

4%3%

5%9%

SMV SAME DIRECTION ANGLE OPPOSITE DIRECTION

Percent of operators who died by manner of collision & alcohol result

Positive Negative

At fault

22%

78%

Vehicle At FaultMotorcycle Fatalities, 2014

Car

Motorcycle

Next:Is this the same for nonfatal crashes?

28% Cars at fault FTY ROW to motorcycle

Engine size

38%

47%

Motorcycle Category Operator Fatalities,

2015

Sport

Cruiser

Other

Unknown

Next: Compare with nonfatal crashes.CC & HP: increase crash severity?

45%

43%

Engine Size (cc): Cruisers

<500

500-999

1000-1499

1500+

53%43%

Engine Size (cc): Sport Bikes

<500

500-999

1000-1499

1500+

Curve involvement

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

FATAL A B C PDO

38%

27%25% 24%

29%

24% 23% 22% 22% 21%

Normal Curve Involvement By Crash Severity, Single Vehicle, On System, 2015

Motorcycle Car

What are the characteristics of curves where crashes & deaths are occurring?

Closing

September2016

References & Resources

GHSA. 2015. Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State: 2015 Preliminary Data. Available at: http://www.ghsa.org/files/pubs/spotlights/motorcycles_2015.pdf

III. 2016. Motorcycle Crashes. Available at: http://www.iii.org/issue-update/motorcycle-crashes

Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1: Technical Report, Hurt, H.H., Ouellet, J.V. and Thom, D.R., Traffic Safety Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, Contract No. DOT HS-5-01160, January 1981 (Final Report).