Center for Urban Transportation Research | University of South Florida

Toward zero deaths: Who needs to do the heavy lifting?

(Motorcycle Crash Trend in Florida)

Chanyoung Lee, Ph.D.

2

Unprecedented Degree of Mobility

• “Motor vehicle travel is the primary means of transportation in the United States, providing an unprecedented degree of mobility. Yet for all its advantages, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for age 4 and every age 11 through 27 (based on 2009 data).”

NHTSA Traffic Safety Factshttp://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811753.pdf

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Pandemic?

• CDC estimated that between about 2,500 and 6,000 2009 H1N1-related deaths occurred between April and October 17, 2009. The mid-level in this range was about 3,900 2009 H1N1-related deaths.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/estimates_2009_h1n1.htm

• In 2011, 32,367 people were killed in the estimated 5,338,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes

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Toward Zero Deaths: A National Strategy on Highway Safety

• will be a data-driven effort focusing on identifying and creating opportunities for changing American culture as it relates to highway safety.

• will also focus on developing strong leadership and champions in the organizations that can directly impact highway safety through engineering, enforcement, education, emergency medical service (EMS), policy, public health, communications, and other efforts.

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Toward zero deaths

Source: Florida DHSMV

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Indexed Traffic Crashes in Florida

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

Traffic Crashes Fatalities Total Injuries(# of Crashes/Fatalities/Injuries in 2003 = 1)

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Motorcycle Crash

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According to NHTSA,

• In 2011, 4,612 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

• Motorcycles made up 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States in 2011 and accounted for only 0.6 percent of all vehicle miles traveled. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811765.pdf

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Motorcyclists Killed in Florida

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

100

200

300

400

500

600

227 252 274339

441521 517 502

376 350413 425

1924

30

26

36

29 33 30

2633

38 32

Operator Passenger

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Indexed Injuries, Fatalities, and Crashes (2001–2012)

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

1.001.11

1.21

1.49

1.94

2.30 2.28 2.21

1.661.54

1.82 1.87

Indexed Motorcycle CrashesIndexed Motorcycle FatalitiesIndexed Motorcycle Injuries

Inde

xed

(200

1 =

1)

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Indexed Crash Trend in Florida, 2003-2012

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8Traffic Fatalities

Motorcyclist Fatalities

Year

Inde

xed

(200

3=1)

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Percent of Motorcycle Fatalities* and Crashes in All Traffic Crashes

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

18.0%

20.0%

2.3% 2.4% 2.7% 2.9% 3.0% 3.5% 3.6% 4.0% 3.5% 3.2% 3.8% 3.3%

8.2% 8.8%9.6%

11.2%

13.5%

16.3%17.1%

17.8%

15.7% 15.7%

18.8% 18.8%The Percent of Motorcycle Crashes in Traffic Crashes

The Percent of Motorcycle Fatali-ties in Traffic Fatalities

*Operator Only

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Percent of Fatal and Injury Crashes in Motorcycle Crashes

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120.0%

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%

100.0%

4.3% 4.6% 4.6% 5.0% 5.9% 6.1% 6.0% 5.5% 4.8% 5.1% 5.2% 4.9%

88.5% 90.2% 90.0% 89.0% 89.4%97.5% 97.3% 97.8% 98.7% 99.0%

92.4% 92.2%

The Number of Motorcycle Fatalities / Total Motorcycle CrashesThe Number of Motorcycle Injuries / Total Motorcycle Crashes

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Percent of Fatal and Injury Crashes in All Traffic Crashes

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

100.0%

1.1% 1.1% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.1% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 0.8%

56.7% 57.1% 57.1% 56.3% 55.1% 53.6% 52.9% 52.7% 53.3% 53.0% 51.7%46.5%

Fatal Crashes Injury Crahes

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At-Fault

• Motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable, and are seen by drivers as taking greater risks than other road users.

• Public perception is that motorcycle riders are reckless and more likely to ride at higher speeds.

• On the other hand, many motorcycle riders believe that drivers need more education and should have a greater awareness of motorcycles on the road. These opposing perceptions logically raise the question of fault, especially in motorcycle-motor vehicle crashes.

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Motorcycle Crash (2004-2012)

Single Vehicle Multiple Vehicles

Motorcycle at fault Motorcycle at fault

Other vehicleat fault

33.6 % 27.9 % 38.6 %

Single Vehicle Crash for passenger car > 13-15%

:27.9/66.5 = about 42% :38.6/66.5 = about 58%

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18

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Bike Types in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes

CRUISER SPORT OFF SCOOTER STANDARD TOURING N/A0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

50.0%45.9%

27.6%

0.8%

6.6%2.5% 3.8%

12.8%

44.0%

32.8%

1.1%5.8%

2.9% 2.5%

10.9%

2010 (366) 2011 (440) 2012 (448)

( ):Sample Size

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Average Age of MC Operator in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes by Bike Type

CRUISER SPORT OFF SCOOTER STANDARD TOURING0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

50.3

29.8

41.136

49 49.1

2010 2011 2012 Average

Age

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Number of Motorcyclists Killed by Age

Under 15 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2

67

106

69

84

69

35

61

91100

51

91

77

29

8

53

88

58 5867

33

6

2010 2011 2012

Num

ber o

f Mot

orcy

clist

s Kill

ed

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Countermeasures that work

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/buying-your-first-motorcycle-everything-you-need-to-know/#!yHSN5

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DOT-Compliant Helmet

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Motorcyclists

Licensed(Endorsed) Unlicensed(Unendorsed)

Formal training after endorsement

No formal training after endorsement

Formal training when endorsed

YES-YES YES-NO

No formal training when endorsed

NO-YES NO-NO

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Formal Training vs. Endorsement

Formal training after endorsement

No formal training after endorsement Total

Formal training when endorsed

14%YES-YES

52%YES-NO

66%

No formal training whenendorsed

7%NO-YES

27%NO-NO

34%

Total 21% 79% 100%

Florida Motorcyclist Survey 2013

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Out of 10 motorcyclists in Florida

No MotorcycleEndorsement

No Formal Training

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Florida was the one of first state to adopt a mandatory training law(July 2008)

• Florida was the first state to adopt a mandatory training law requiring all motorcyclists, regardless of age, to attend a motorcycle training course in order to obtain a motorcycle endorsement on their license.

• In addition, the mandatory training course is standardized across the state and follows the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) curricula for the Basic Rider Course (BRC).

• Furthermore, the Florida Rider Training Program (FRTP) monitors all course providers in the state to ensure they are upholding all MSF standards, including training sites, course structure, and instructor training.

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Unendorsed Motorcyclists based on Crash Data

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

34.9% 35.2% 36.4% 35.5%32.8%

28.9%27.4% 27.8% 28.4% 28.5%

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What is your position towards the reinstatement of a universal helmet law in Florida?

What is your opinion regarding the 2008 Florida Statue that requires all new riders to complete a basic training course in order to obtain a motorcycle endorsement?

Strongly support Support Oppose Strongly oppose

72.7%

22.6%

3.4% 1.2%

27.5%21.4%

24.8% 26.2%

Mandatory Training Law

Universal Helmet Law

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What made you decide to take the Basic Rider Course?

2011 2012 2013

Court order 3.7% 3.2% 1.8%

I am a new rider and want to have a motorcycle endorsement

64.3% 64.0% 65.4%

I have been riding and need a motorcycle endorsement

27.4% 26.0% 26.4%

I wanted to improve my skills 2.6% 4.6% 3.2%

Other 2.0% 2.2% 3.2%

Total100.0%

(543)100.0% (497)

100.0%(500)

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Riding Experience Prior to Course

2011 2012 2013

Very experienced 13.7% 16.1% 11.7%

Somewhat experienced 40.6% 34.3% 32.4%

Somewhat inexperienced 19.3% 18.1% 22.1%

Very inexperienced (I have never ridden a motorcycle prior to the course)

26.4% 31.5% 33.8%

Total100%(539)

100% (496)

100% (497)

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Would you recommend the MSF Basic Rider Course (BRC) to an experienced motorcyclist?

Response (488)

Yes 86.7%

No 13.3%

Very experienced

Response (57)

Yes 77.2%

No 22.9%

All

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Would you consider taking the Experienced Rider Course (ERC)?

Motorcycle riding experience prior to taking the Basic Rider Course(BRC) YES

Very experienced 77.2%

Somewhat experienced 82.2%

Somewhat inexperienced 86.2%

Very inexperienced (I had never operated a motorcycle prior to the course) 87.5%Florida Rider Training Survey 2013

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After a few years of riding…

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There are several motorcycle training courses for experienced riders. Would you consider attending one of these courses in the next 12 months?

I have re-cently taken

a training course for

riders

No Yes0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

7.0%

31.9%

61.1%

Florida Motorcyclist Survey 2013

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Reason for Not Considering Experienced Rider Course (ERC)

Other

I am unsure of the types of courses that are offered

I don't feel that I would learn much

I don't have the time

Too expensive

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

18.1%

9.2%

32.8%

19.3%

20.3%

Florida Motorcyclist Survey 2013

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Formal Training vs. Endorsement

Formal training after endorsement

No formal training after endorsement Total

Formal training when endorsed

14%YES-YES

52%YES-NO

66%

No formal training whenendorsed

7%NO-YES

27%NO-NO

34%

Total 21% 79% 100%

Florida Motorcyclist Survey 2013

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Taking a training course after endorsement

• Required– Military

• Improving Skills– Sport Bike

• Built-in Culture in Motorcycle Club– GWRRA

• New Motorcycle– Trike

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Conclusion

• No Sliver Bullet • PPE Use, Defensive Riding/Driving– Required– Motivation– Culture– Habit– Benefit– Price

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Question?

Chanyoung Lee, Ph.D.Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR)cylee@cutr.usf.edu813.974.5307