Fatality Rate ( ) Number of Motorcyclists Killed Per 100 M VMT and 100,000 Registered Motorcycles by Year (Source: FHWA/FARS)
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Motorcycle Safety Motorcycle Safety • FHWA FHWA – Motorcycle Crash Causation Study Motorcycle Crash Causation Study – Evaluation Design for Motorcycle Safety Evaluation Design for Motorcycle Safety Countermeasures Countermeasures – International Scan: Successful International Scan: Successful Infrastructure Countermeasures to Mitigate Infrastructure Countermeasures to Mitigate Motorcyclist Fatalities Motorcyclist Fatalities • NCHRP NCHRP – NCHRP 22-26: Factors Related to Serious NCHRP 22-26: Factors Related to Serious Injury and Fatal Motorcycle Crashes with Injury and Fatal Motorcycle Crashes with Traffic Barriers Traffic Barriers – NCHRP 08-81: Improving the Quality of NCHRP 08-81: Improving the Quality of Motorcycle Travel Data Collection Motorcycle Travel Data Collection – Domestic Scan Domestic Scan
Transcript
Motorcycle SafetyMotorcycle Safety• FHWAFHWA
– Motorcycle Crash Causation StudyMotorcycle Crash Causation Study– Evaluation Design for Motorcycle Safety Evaluation Design for Motorcycle Safety
CountermeasuresCountermeasures– International Scan: Successful Infrastructure International Scan: Successful Infrastructure
Countermeasures to Mitigate Motorcyclist FatalitiesCountermeasures to Mitigate Motorcyclist Fatalities• NCHRPNCHRP
– NCHRP 22-26: Factors Related to Serious Injury and NCHRP 22-26: Factors Related to Serious Injury and Fatal Motorcycle Crashes with Traffic Barriers Fatal Motorcycle Crashes with Traffic Barriers
– NCHRP 08-81: Improving the Quality of Motorcycle NCHRP 08-81: Improving the Quality of Motorcycle Travel Data Collection Travel Data Collection
2009 Motorcycle Fatality Results2009 Motorcycle Fatality Results• 4,462 Motorcyclists died in 20094,462 Motorcyclists died in 2009• U.S. motorcycle fatalities represent U.S. motorcycle fatalities represent
13% of total highway fatalities13% of total highway fatalities• Motorcycle related deaths were Motorcycle related deaths were
down 16% in 2009down 16% in 2009• First drop in the past 11 yearsFirst drop in the past 11 years• Encouraging but not yet a trendEncouraging but not yet a trend
International Motorcycle Safety Scan: International Motorcycle Safety Scan: Successful Infrastructure Countermeasures Successful Infrastructure Countermeasures
to Mitigate Motorcyclist Fatalitiesto Mitigate Motorcyclist Fatalities
Panel Members:Panel Members: David A. NicolDavid A. Nicol, P.E.,Co-Chair, FHWA, Washington, DC, P.E.,Co-Chair, FHWA, Washington, DC Dennis W. HeuerDennis W. Heuer, P.E., Co-Chair, Virginia DOT, 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 Research Carol Tan, Ph.D, FHWA, Turner-Fairbank Highway Research
Center, VirginiaCenter, 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 DOT Keith Cota, P.E., New Hampshire DOT James (Jim) Baron, American Traffic Safety Services James (Jim) Baron, American Traffic Safety Services
AssociationAssociation 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:
Goal:Goal:• To identify cost-effective
infrastructure improvements to reduce motorcycle fatalities
• To identify design and system operational activities to reduce motorcycle fatalities
• Develop implementation strategies
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 Learned What 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 Rider Training– 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 PTW run-off-the-road
– Urban: Intersections, Other Vehicle
• Highway Engineer Training in Motorcycle/Infrastructure Considerations Needed– Written guidance documents
for road engineers• Cooperation among Advocacy
Organizations– Filtering Process
What We LearnedWhat We LearnedObservation:– % of Motorcycle Fatalities are similar to the US
(except France & England)– Data issues similar to US
