Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification - DOT On-Line

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MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CAUSE FACTORS AND
IDENTIFICATION OF COUNTERMEASURES
VOLUME I: TECHNICAL REPORT
_-
H.H. Hurt, Jr.
--
J6Vk O;“h”;t
. .
Traffic Safety Center
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California 90007
Contract No. DOT HS-5-01160
Contract Amount $501,814.00
JANUARY 1981
FINAL REPORT
This document is orrilsbla to the US. public through the
National T*chnical lnforrlv3tiOn 64niCO.
6pringfisld. Virginia 22161
For
Prepared
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Washington, D.C. 20590
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This document was prepared under the sponsorship
of the National Center for Statistics and Analysis,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
Department of Transportation, in the interest of
information exchange. The United States Government
assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof.
The findings and conclusions in this report are those
of the author and not necessarily those of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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4. Tit,. an.3 S”b?,tle 5. R.W.8 CJore
Final Report January, 1981
Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and 6. Perf.rmin.a org."i..ti." Cod.
Identification of Countermeasures
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.8 P.,forminp orpon,z.li." 0.peR No.
7. *"*h.rl.,
I CSU
HURT. H.H., Jr., OUELLET. J.V., and THOM, D.R. Traffic Safety Center 81-1
9. P.rlorming orgonizolion Nan. dnna r\ddr*,, 10. W.rl. Unit NO. (TRAIS)
University of Southern California
I
Traffic ytefiS Center
11 C.nt.ocr ,0 G..". No.
Motorcycle Accident Research DOT-HS-5-01160
University Park, Los Angeles, CA. 90007
13. Two 06 Repor, and P.,a.d C.rer*d
12. SF..n.oring A9."CI .,.n and Plddr.3,
FINAL REPORT
U.S. Department of Transportation
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Washington, D.C. 20590
IS. ”ro*mm.l.~”S ..toH
Contract Technical Manager - Nicholas G. Tsongos, NCSA
(202) 426-9124
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This report presents the data and find~ings from the on-scene, in-depth
investigations of 900 motorcycle accidents and the fo.sisyla"a 3600 traffic
accident reports of motorcycle accidents in the same study area.
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Comprehensive data were collected and synthesized for these accidents to
cover all details of environmental, vehicle and human factors.
In addition, exposure data were collected and analyzed at 505 accident
- sites at the same time-of-day, same day-of-week, with same environmental
conditions. These exposure data define the population at risk so that
comparison with accident data will reveal the factors which are -revo
represented in the accident population.
The analysis and review of these data identify cause factors of motorcycle
accidents, relates the effectiveness of safety equipment and protective
devices, and identifies countermeasures for accident and injury prevention.
._
Volume I is the Technical Report containing the most significant data,
data analysis, findings, conclusions and recommended countermeasures.
Volume II is the Awendix with terminology, field data forms, ana
_ . .
supplemental data and analysis.
J. ysK ,droV
IS. n.itu.ti.t~i0 tn.m.t.tS
Motorcycles, Motorcycle Accidents, Unlimited
- Motorcycle Injuries, Safety Helmets. Available through the
National Technical Information Service
Springfield, VA 22161
.91 S.c".itl Cl.,.if.,of ,hi, .%...l, 20. S.wi?y a., f. ,ol tt?i. i.g”p .12 ..N i. 3.geP .22 3.trP
UNCLASSIFIED .ED Vol 1: 425
uNcLAss11
VOl 2: 404
arm DOT F 1700.7 18-721 Reproduction .‘ completed page authorized
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- University of Southern California DOT HS-5-01160
REPORT DATE
REPORT TITLE
Final Report-Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors
January, 1981
and Identification of Countermeastires
REPORT AUTHOR(S)
H. H. Hurt, Jr;. J. V. Ouellet, and D. R. Thorn
- Objectives. Three specific areas were set as objectives in this research: (1) The
causes of motorcycle accidents and injuries need to be determined so that all
contributions of the motorcycle rider, car driver, roadway features, and motorcycle
_ design are defined, (2) The effec tl’veness of safety helmets and other protective
equipment must be determined because the motorcycle rider has no crash protection
unless it is being worn on the body, and (3) Countermeasures must be determined
which will prevent motorcycle accidents and reduce injuries.
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Methodoloqy. This research was conducted in Los Angeles, California, from July, 1975
until Septambgr, 1980 at the TrafFic Safety Center of the University of Southern
- - California. A specialized team was formed with engineers, psychologists, medical
doctors-pathologists and motorcycle technicians. All members of the research team
were required to have motorcycle riding experience so that they could appreciate and
understand all hazards peculiar to the motorcycle and its accident problems. This
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research team underwent six months of special training to achieve a high capability
in reconstructing motorcycle accidents, examining safety helmets, evaluating injuries
interviewing witnesses, etc. In addition, cooperation was obtained from law enforce-
ment agencies, fire department rescue ambulance services, hospitals and.the coroner-
medical examiner, so that’theresearch team could have acces to accident scenes, inter-
view victims and witnesses and collect injury information.
During 1976 and 1977, the motorcycle accident research team conducted on-scene, in-
depth investigations of more than 900 motorcycle accidents by going to the scene of
the accident at all times of the dayand all days of the week. Each accident was
- completely reconstructed and approximately a thousand data elements were determined
for each occident. Also, 3600 police traffic accident reports were collected in the
same area, at the same’ticfor comparison with the 900 on-scene, in-depth accident
cases. During 1978 and 1979, these accident cases were analyzed and exposure data
collected at setis505 of the 900 reference accident sites. The research teams returned to
the accident at the same time of day, same day of week and same environemental
conditions then interviewed 2310 motorcycle riders and examined their motorcycles.
Information was collected about training, experience, education, helmet use, alcohol
and drug use, etc., for all these motorcycle riders who were at the same place at the
same time of day but not involved in an accident.
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The accident data from the 900 on-scene, in-depth cases were analyzed to determine
accident and injury causes. Then the exposure data were compared with accident data
to determine th
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motorcycles in the accident data had the headlarrp on in daylight but 60% of the
motorcycles in the exposure data had the headlamp on in daylight. Such comparison
identifies the use of the headlamp on in daylight as a powerful and effective way
of reducing accident involvement, by making the motorcycle more conspicuous in
traffic.
Motorcycle accidents that occur in Los Angeles are essentially the same as motorcycle
accidents that occur in other locations in the United States. The most frequent use
of a motorcycle is in favorable weather because there is no protection for the motor-
cycle rider in bad weather and the motorcycle lacks stability on slippery roadways.
Most motorcycle accidents occur in this favorable weather simply because of the more
frequent use, and human error is the dominant feature in those accidents. Hence, the
factors identified in this research should be conwon to motorcycle accidents in other
regions. The only difference is that the favorable weather of the study area allowed
the study of a very large number of motorcycle accidents.
Research Findinqs. The most common motorcycle accident involves another vehicle
causing the collision by violating the right-of-way of the motorcycle at an inter-
section, usually by turning left in front of the oncoming motorcycle because the car
driver did not see the motorcycle. The motorcycle rider involved in the accident is
usually inconspicuous in traffic, inexperienced, untrained, unlicensed, unprotected
and uninsured and does a poor job of avoiding the collision.
The data of this accident research provide the following principal findings:
(1) Accident and Injury Causes-The automobile driver fails to detect the inconspicuous
motorcycle in traffic. This is due to lack of motorcycle and rider concpicuity and
lack of caution and awareness of the automobile driver. The lack of skill and traffic
strategy increases the motorcycle rider’s involvement in collisions. Injury severity
increases with collision speed, and the lack of head protection accountsfor the most
severe but preventable injuries.
(2) Protective Equipment-The only significant protective equipment is the qualified
safety helmet, and it is capable of a spectacular reduction of head injury severity
and frequency. FMVSS 218 provides a highly qualified safety helmet for use by motor-
cycle riders. This research shows NO reasons for a motorcycle rider to be without a
safety helmet; qualified helmets do not limit vision or hearing in traffic or cause
injury.
(3) Countermeasures-The basic Motorcycle Rider Course of the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation is effective in training motorcycle riders; those trained riders are both
less involved and less injured in motorcycle accidents. This course-or its equivalent-
should be made a prerequisite, or at least corequisite, of motorcycle use and should
be applied in driver improvement for those motorcycle riders who have received
traffic citations or who have been involved in accidents. Licensing of motorcycle
riders should be improved with special motorcycle licenses and improved testing
such as has been developed by NHTSA-Traffic Safety Programs. Law enforcement should
act to enforce license requiremnets, identify alcohol-involved motorcycle riders,
remove dirt bikes from traffic, and effective1 cite and file against culpable
accident-involved automobile drivers as well as motorcycle riders. Most motorcycles
in accidents are inconspicuous, and the use of headlamps on in daylight and high
visibility jackets definitely reduces accident involvement. The use of a qualified
safety helmet reduces head injuries significantly and the accompanying eye
protection attached to the helmet preserves vision and reduces accident involvement.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EMULOV I - TECHNICAL REPORT Page
1.0 SUMMARY
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Methodology
1.3 Research Findings
INTRODUCTION
2.0
2.1 Historical Overview
2,2 Objectives of the Research
_ 2.3 The Study Area
2.4 Acknowledgements
3.0 DEVELOPMENT THE RESEARCH 12
OF
- 3.1 Technical Approach 12
3.2 Project Schedule 14
3.3 Project Personnel 15
3.4 Data Collection Plan 15
4.0 RESEARCH HFmODOLOGY 17
4.1 Liaison and Cooperative Agreements 17
4.2 Team Training 19
4.3 Sampling Plan 23
4.4 Field Data Collection Activities 24
4.5 Quality Control 30
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4.6 Data Processing and Analysis 32
4.7 Research Recommendations 34
- 5.0 ACCIDENT CHARACTERISTICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 36
5.1 USC Accident Data Acquisition 36
5.2 Accident Distribution by Time, Day, and Month 37
5"3 Objects Involved in noisilloC with Motorcycles 38
5.4 Accident Precipitating Factor 43
5.5 Pre-Crash Vehicle Motions 46
5.6 Accident Scene, Type of Area 48
705 Accident Scene Illumination 49
5.8 Accident Scene Weather Conditions at Time of Accident 49
9,5 Trip Plan, Motorcycle rediR and Other Vehicle Driver 51
5.10 Time Riding Before Accident 53
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5.11 Motorcycle Roadway 54
5,12 Other Vehicle yawdacR
56
5.13 Traffic Density 57
5.14 Traffic Controls 57
5.15 Precrash View Obstructions and Limitations to Vision 59
5-16 Animal Involvement 65
5.17 Conspicuity 66
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ELBAT FO STNETNOC)deunitnoC(
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ELCIHEVSROTCAF 96
6.0
1.6 epyT dna eziS elcycrotoM 69
6.2 elcycro tdoeMvlovnI-tnedi c ecrfhAeotrutcafunaM 37 -
3.6 raey fo ,eruteafunsM ra elYed orMo 74
4.6 elcycro t eorfhMoot lgonCitanimoderP 74
35
5.6 elcycrotoM eht no tcatnoC noisilloC
6.6 snoitacifidoM elcycrotoM 79
7.6 ssenihtrowhsarC metsyS leuF 1a
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6.12 hsarC raBssenevitceffE 101
6.13 elciheVstcefeD 801
41.6 eht htiW tnediccA eht ni devlovnI elciheV rehtO
elcycrotoM 211
7.0 ,RERE LEVDRCGINE INRA H,HEDETRESLOEVSCDAYIPCRROTOM
SCITSIRETCARAHC 611
1.7 egA rediR elcycrotoM 411
7.2 nerdl i,hsCut altaSti r,a xMreeS deilRcycrotoM 411
3.7 thgieW dna thgieH rediR elcycrotoM 811
7.4 noitacudE dna noitapuccO rediR elcycrotoM "811
7.5 noitaci fei slernaleeucdcQyiicRLrotoM 021
7.6 tnediccA dna noitaloiV ciffarT rediR elcycrotoM
ecneirepxE 021
7.7 ecne igrne ipernxleiEcdayircRTrotoM 125
8.7 ecneire pex kEti rBrieD deilRcycrotoM 521
9-7 ecneire pex kEtieBe rrteS deilRcycrotoM 128
Ol,7 yawd aho tRyitwiraili mraeF deilRcycrotoM 130
11-7 ecneref edr nPraeH deilRcycrotoM 130
7.12 tnemevlovnI gurD dna lohoclA rediR elcycrotoM 031
31.7 tnemria plmaIcigolois yrheP deilRcycrotoM 136
41.7 soottaT ,scitsiretcarahC rediR elcycrotoM 137
51.7 nootitne trteA d,ieRcnamrof rreeP deilRcycrotoM
ksaT gnivirD 731
61.7 snsoe rrteS d,ieRcnamrof rreeP deilRcycrotoM
yaD fotnediccA 139
7.17 ecnamrof reecPnadi onvoAisil lroeC deilRcycrotoM 140
7.18 lortnoC fo ssoL rediR elcycrotoM 150
7.19 xreeSgnes sealPcycrotoM 155
02.7 thg i detnWhag ireeHgnes sealPcycrotoM 155
12.7 n o rieetlgacnpyeucscrscoaOtPoM 651
7.22 ecneire prxeEgnes sealPcycrotoM 651
32.7 tnemevlo vgn uI drlnDoaho crleAgnes sealPcycrotoM 751
42.7 egA revirD elciheV rehtO 157
7.25 nerdl i,hsCut altaSti r,a xMreeSv ierlDci hreeVhtO 751
62-7 noitapuccO dna noitacudE revirD elciheV rehtO 161
7.27 noitacifil aeusQne crieLv ierlDci hreeVhtO 261
82,7 ecneirepxE revirD elciheV rehtO 261
92-7 tnemevlovnI gurD dna lohoclA revirD elciheV rehtO 166
1"
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ELBAT OF CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
HUMAN FACTORS - INJURIES 169
8.0
8.1 Injuries - General Characteristics 169
2,8 Rider and Passenger Positions on the Motorcycle
at Crash Impact 171
8.3 Motorcycle, Rider and Passenger Motion After
Collision Contact 173
8.4 On-Scene Medical Assistance and Injury Status,
Motorcycle Rider and Passenger 173
8.5 Somatic (Body) Region Injuries 179
8.6 Head and Neck Injuries (Including Face) 196
8.7 Injury Mechanisms, Contact Surfaces 207
8.8 Injury Association: Effects of Speed, Alcohol Involve-
ment, and Motorcycle Size on Injury Severity 212
8.9 Groin Injuries 220
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9.0 HUMAN FACTORS-PROTECTION SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS 229
9.1 Protection Systems - GeneralCharacteristics,Helmets 229
- 9.2 Eye Protection 233
9.3 safety Helmet use Characteristics 241
9.4 Helmet Manufacturer and Construction 259
9.5 Safety Helmet Retention System Performance 264
9.6 Safety Helmet Weight 268
9.7 Safety temleH Color 270
9.8 Safety Helmet Impact Analysis 270
9.9 Safety Helmet-Effectiveness: Head and Neck Injury
Type of Lesion 279
9.10 Safety Helmet Effectiveness: Head and Neck Injury
Severity 282
9.11 Safety Helmet Effectiveness: Overall Severities
Sum (SS) and Head and Neck Severities muS (SS2) 282
9.12 Safety Helmet Effectiveness: Head and Neck Injury
Region 285
9-13 Safety Helmet Effectiveness: Neck Only Injury Severity 292
9.14 Effect of Helmet Coverage on Motorcycle Rider Most
Severe Head Injury 293
9.15 Effect of Helmet Coverage on Motorcycle Rider
Most Severe Face Injury 295
9.16 Effect of Helmet Coverage on Motorcycle Rider
Most Severe Neck Injury 299
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9,17 Effect of Eye Protection on Motorcycle Rider
Most Severe Face Injury 303
9.18 Effect of Eye Protection on Motorcycle Rider
Most Severe Eye Injury 307
9.19 Motorcycle Rider Most Severe Injury, Somatic Regions 308
9.20 Effect of Upper Torso Garment on Most Severe Upper
Torso Injury 311
9.21 Effect of Lower Torso Coverage on Most Severe
Lower Torso Injury 312
9.22 Effect of Foot Coverage on Most Severe Ankle-Foot
Injury 316
9.23 Effect of Hand Protection on Most Severe Hand Injury 319
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ELBAT FO STNETNOC)deunitnoC(
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42.9 sdnuoS ciffarT lacitirC gniraeH ot detaleR esU temleH 323
9.25 seirujnI detubirttA ot ytefaSstemleH 324
9.26 rediR eugitaF dna temleHesU 3 2 4
9.27 812 SSVMF ot detaleR ecnamrofreP temleH ytefaS 423
82.9 tcejorP mliF eivoM dna epatoediV 723
10.0 ATAD ERUSOPXE 923
latnemnorivnEsrotcaF 3 2 9
10.1 nalP pirT rediR 923
10.2 weivre tenrIo feelBcycro tgonMi deimRiT 923
10.3 w ocliFff anraTideM 330
4.01 rehtaeW 333
ataD elciheV 335
10.5 epyT dna eziS elcycrotoM 335
6-01 rerutcafunaM fo selcycrotoM 335
7.01 r aleeY d,roeoMrutcafu nrfaaoMeY 533
8.01 elcycro t eorfhMoot lgonCitanimoderP 533
10.9 snoi tealcciyfcirdootMoM 335
01.01 egasU pmaldaeH 337
namuHsrotcaF 346
11.01 re deilRcycrotoM egA 346
10.12 rediR elcycrotoM ne r,d sllui ath,taCxiterSSaM 346
10.13 elcycrotoM rediR thgieW dna thgieH 346
41.01 rediR elcycrotoM noitauuccO dnanoitacudE 346
51.01 re deilRcycrotoM es;eciL noitacifilauQ 053
61.01 re deilRcycrotoM tnediccA dna noitaloiV ciffarT
ecneirepxE 350
10.17 re deilRcycrotoM ecneirepxE gniniarT 351
81.01 re deilRcycrotoM ecneirepxE ekiB triD 352
10.19 elcyrcerdoitRoM ecneirepxE ekiB teertS 352
10.20 rediR elcycrotoM yawdaoR eht htiw ytirailimaF 353
12.01 re deilRcycrotoM ecnereferP dnaH 354
22001 rediR elcycrotoM tnemevlovnI gurD dna lohoclA 354
32.01 elcyrcerdoitRoM tnemriapmI lacigoloisyhP tnenamreP 553
42.01 rediR elcycrotoM soottaT 653
52001 elcyrcerdoitRoM k sganTiv inorotDitnettA 356
62.01 elcycrotoM rediR weivretnI fo yaD no ssertS 853
10.27 re deilRcycrotoM esU ekarB tnorF detatS 358
82.01 elcycrotoM regnessaPtnemevlovnI 359
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03-ol dna elciheV rotoM morF ataD noitalupoP elpmaS
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0.11 A TEARDUSO P DXTNENAEDI CSFCNOAOSIRAPMOC 382
ytiucipsnoCsrotcaF 283
1.11 tnemec aelnpisginD Ee-leczyicSrotoM 283
2,11 elcycrotoM roloC 383
11.3 elcycro tsonMoitacifidoM hcihW tcefyftAiucipsnoC 483
4,11 epsmUaldaeH 583
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