Motorcycle Crashes Lidia P. Kostyniuk, Ph.D., P.E. University of Michigan Transportation Research institute Michigan Traffic Safety Summit April 28, 2004

Background 80% of motorcycle crashes result in death or injury Between 1997 and 2001 in U.S. – 26% increase in motorcycles – 51% increase in motorcyclist deaths In 2002 – 2.2% of U.S. vehicles were motorcycles – 7.6% of U.S. traffic fatalities involved motorcycles Increase in motorcycles expected to continue UMTRI

Michigan Motorcycle Registrations and License Endorsements UMTRI Registrations + 45% Endorsements + 8%

Crashes involving motorcycles Michigan, % increase from 1997 But, 7% decrease in all crashes from 1997 UMTRI

Number of persons killed in crashes involving motorcycles 28% increase from 1997, But 12% decrease in all traffic fatalities UMTRI

Number of persons injured in crashes involving motorcycles 17% increase from 1997, But 18% decrease in all traffic injuries UMTRI

Crash-involved motorcyclists by age Age % increase UMTRI

Motorcycle Crash Rates UMTRI

Crash-involved motorcyclists by license 55-56% legally licensed for motorcycle ~10% no drivers’ license of any type UMTRI

Who was not licensed to drive motorcycle in 2002 Crash-involved Group No endorsement on driver’s license No driver’s license < 1923%54% %4% %5% %3% 65+19%2% Men34%8% Women35%10% UMTRI

Most motorcycle crashes Dry road (89-94%) Good weather (73-81%) Daylight (68-71%) Peak MonthsJune, July, August Peak daysSaturday, Sunday Peak hours3-6 pm UMTRI

Single and multi-vehicle crashes About half motorcycle crashes are single vehicle crashes No difference by month, day of week, weather, road type, road condition More single vehicle crashes at night Slightly more single vehicle crashes involve drinking driver UMTRI

Hazardous Actions, 2002 Careless UMTRI 2002 Citations 13% of motorcyclists, 30% of other drivers

Number of Had-been-drinking crashes (motorcyclist drinking) 8-10% of all motorcycle crashes 4% decrease from 1997 UMTRI

HBD Motorcycle Crashes Fatalities 1997 – 30 deaths (47% of mc fatalities ) 2002 – 24 deaths (29%) 20% decrease Injuries 1997 – 302 injuries (14%) 2002 – 270 injuries (10%) 11% decrease UMTRI

BAC levels of tested fatal-crash involved motorcyclists UMTRI 64-84% of fatal-crash involved motorcyclists tested for BAC

Helmet use Helmet use is high – 94% in 1997, 96.5% in 2002 Lower severity in crashes – with helmet 22-25% killed or severely injured – without helmet 27-38% killed or severely injured UMTRI

DOT-certified helmet and novelty helmet

Michigan trends, % increase in registered motorcycles 8% increase in licensed motorcyclists Aging of licensed motorcyclists 20% increase in all motorcycle crashes 27% increase in fatal motorcycle crashes 44% crash-involved motorcyclists – no endorsement on license 10% - no license Proportion of HBD crashes decreased from 12% to 9% UMTRI

What can be done Licensing – PIE, enforcement – Training programs, insurance co, dealers Skill levels – Train and test on bike of size and type to be used Helmet use – Educate, encourage, enforce use of DOT-approved helmets Educate other drivers – PIE programs “how to drive safely near motorcycles” Obtain better estimates – of motorcyclists – amount of motorcycle travel in Michigan UMTRI

Thank you