1. Motorcycle Safety In TEXAS
DJ Jeffries
Texas Department of Transportation

2. It’s Just in the Blood…

4. Who is the problem?
Older v. Younger

5. Where is the problem?
Rural v. Urban

6. Other Considerations
Helmet Usage
Training
Licensing
Alcohol Use

7. Helmet Law repealed in 1997 Helmet Usage in 1998 dropped to 66.9%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Helmet Law repealed in 1997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%

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. So What did we find out?

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

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

14. 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.

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

16. Motorcycle Safety Program
What we were doing and what we changed

17. Rider Training
Media Events
TMSC Awareness

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

19. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Media Events
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

20. Motorist Awareness Events
All across Texas
Events
Motorist Awareness Events

21. Brochures and PI&E Material
Events
Poster Series

22. Circuit of the Americas
Racing Facility, Austin

23. 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

24. 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 Funding
Rider Education
Texas DPS
Motorcycle Safety Unit

25. Partnerships
Yes, THAT COC&I

26. Bikers went to work…

27. And kept at it…

28. 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

29. Yard Signs

30. Safety and Awareness Partners

31. Proclamations for Cities for Awareness Month

32. Getting the Message Out

33. Helmets across Texas

34. Even these guys

35. 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
Projected decline of +/- 6% in 2015
Projected 1 point decline in rate per 10K MC
All with increases of 45k MC registrations

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

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

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