Motorcycle Safety In TEXAS DJ Jeffries Texas Department of Transportation

It’s Just in the Blood…

Who is the problem? Older v. Younger

Where is the problem? Rural v. Urban

Other Considerations Helmet Usage Training Licensing Alcohol Use

Helmet Law repealed in 1997 Helmet Usage in 1998 dropped to 66.9% Helmet Usage in Texas Helmet Law repealed in 1997 Helmet Usage in 1997 was 99.7% Helmet Usage in 1998 dropped to 66.9% Low Helmet Usage recorded in 2004 at 49.2% By 2010, Helmet Usage was 57.1%

The Scope of the problem 440,442 registered motorcycles in Texas rate per 10K registrations were almost 12 per 10K Helmet usage was hovering at 55% Alcohol involvement was 45% 40% were unlicensed to operate

Motorcycle Fatalities - Why 48% Single Motorcycle Crashes Off the road to the right / striking fixed object Lost control on roadway 52% Involved another vehicle Failure to Yield to motorcycle Motorcycle rear ends another vehicle

Motorcycle Assessment Program management Evaluation and research Personal protective gear Motorcycle operator licensing Rider education and training Alcohol and other drugs Motorcycle conspicuity Motorist awareness programs Public information and education Motorcycle Assessment NHTSA – 2nd Quarter, 2014

So What did we find out?

Motorcycle Fatalities in Texas - Who 20-29 Year old males Helmeted / Gear / Speed

Motorcycle Fatalities in Texas - Who 40-49 Year old males No Helmet / Limited Gear / Alcohol

Motorcycle Fatalites – State of Texas – Where? Austin Dallas / Fort Worth El Paso Houston San Antonio Waco 59 counties in these seven districts 23 % of all the counties in Texas. 71.25 % of all MC registrations in Texas. represent 67.8 % of all motorcycle fatalities.

Major Issues in Texas No License to operate motorcycle Failure to Yield Right of Way Lack of basic gear Alcohol involvement

Motorcycle Safety Program What we were doing and what we changed

Rider Training Media Events TMSC Awareness

Certified Rider Training Courses Basic Rider Course Experienced Rider Course Instructor Courses Specialized Courses Rider Education Certified Rider Training Courses

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Media Events Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Motorist Awareness Events All across Texas Events Motorist Awareness Events

Brochures and PI&E Material Events Poster Series

Circuit of the Americas Racing Facility, Austin

Circuit of the Americas Moto GP Motorcycle Race Formula 1 Race V8 Super Cars “X” Games American LeMans Grand Am of the Americas 20 Concerts during the year Circuit of the Americas

Texas DPS Motorcycle Safety Unit Added Internet Based training modules Placed expiration on MSB-8 Working to merge training files with Driver’s License Files SB 754 - Funding Rider Education Texas DPS Motorcycle Safety Unit

Partnerships Yes, THAT COC&I

Bikers went to work…

And kept at it…

Allocates the Funds collected from License Fees to DPS Legislative SB 754, sponsored by Senator Kirk Watson, passed into law on September 1st. Allocates the Funds collected from License Fees to DPS Increases the DPS MSU budget from $440,000 a year to $2.1 Million Driven and lobbied by the COC&I and Training Instructor Association

Yard Signs

Safety and Awareness Partners

Proclamations for Cities for Awareness Month

Getting the Message Out

Helmets across Texas

Even these guys

Helmet Usage 66.2% in 2014 and climbing What Happened ? Helmet Usage 66.2% in 2014 and climbing Fatalities drop 9.2% in 2014 from 502 - 463 Projected decline of +/- 6% in 2015 Projected 1 point decline in rate per 10K MC All with increases of 45k MC registrations

Crash Causation Study Gear Use Study /Material Partner with COC&I Partner with COTA

Printed Materials www.looklearnlive.org Media Tab – List and examples of all materials from campaigns and others sites for Texas Specific Material Can get copies from TTI

DJ Jeffries daniel.jeffries@txdot.gov Questions? DJ Jeffries daniel.jeffries@txdot.gov