1. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
SMSA 2014 Symposium
Andrew Krajewski
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2. Comprehensive Motorcycle Safety Program
Highway Safety Program Guideline No. 3 - Motorcycle Safety
Each state’s highway safety program should include a comprehensive motorcycle safety program that aims to reduce motorcycle crashes and related deaths and injuries.
11 Components identified in Guideline No. 3
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3. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
VII. Law Enforcement
VIII. Highway Engineering
IX. Motorcycle Rider Conspicuity and Motorist Awareness
X. Communication Program
XI. Program Evaluation and Data
I. Program Management
II. Motorcycle Personal Protective Equipment
III. Motorcycle Operator Licensing
IV. Motorcycle Rider Education and Training
V. Motorcycle Operation Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drugs
VI. Legislation and Regulations
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4. Concerns from 2012 Fatal Motorcycle Crashes
In 75% of the crashes the motorcycle collided with a vehicle in front of them
Motorcyclists are more likely to hit a fixed object than another vehicle
In 41% of two vehicle crashes the other vehicle turned left in front of a motorcycle going straight, passing or overtaking another vehicle
In 34% of the crashes, the motorcyclist was exceeding the speed limit
In 24% of the crashes the motorcyclists were riding without a valid license
29% of the motorcyclists had a BAC of .08 or higher
43% of the motorcyclists in single vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher
NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2012 Data, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis
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5. State Crash Data
Single vehicle and multi-vehicle crashes almost a split
Motorcyclists at fault in approximately 50% of the crashes and contribute in additional 25%
Speed and aggressive operation by the motorcyclist
Distracted
Impaired
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6. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Is rider education addressing these concern?
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7. What we know about rider education
It has been in existence for over 40 years - probably the first motorcycle safety initiative
Over 7 million individuals have completed motorcycle rider training
Endorsed by motorcyclists, national organizations, advocacy groups, manufacturers
Federal and state funds are still available
Is the most prevalent motorcycle safety initiative used by the states
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8. What we know about rider education
Approximately $41 million is budgeted annually by states
Over 400,000 individuals annually complete rider training
Entry level courses are the most popular and best attended
Requirements and incentives are still needed to encourage participation
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9. What we know about rider education or training continued
Most common reason for enrolling in entry level course – licensing waiver
Limited evidence that rider training is effective
Rider training requires a lot of resources and can be expensive to administer
Few entry level “graduates” seek out or enroll in additional training
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10. Course Graduates with a License
May not immediately get involved in motorcycling – could be as high as 40%
Inexperience (on-road) is a concern
May only be active motorcyclists for a short period of time
Do crash and sometimes at a higher rate than untrained
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11. Most States
Evaluate their training effort by the numbers trained annually or per student cost
Have not implemented a process to “track” students after course completion
Have not measured or evaluated their rider training effort
Believe rider education is the “corner stone” of their motorcycle safety effort
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12. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
What is the role of rider education in a state’s motorcycle safety effort?
Be a crash countermeasure
Develop basic knowledge and skill
Encourage licensing
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13. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Rider education is NOT the “silver bullet” - Countermeasures that Work - Limited or no evidence
Rider education is not Motorcycle Safety – it is a component in a comprehensive approach
The role rider education plays:
May not have been clearly defined or understood
Is easily misrepresented and misinterpreted
Is often exaggerated
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14. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Rider education currently:
“Touches” thousands of people annually
Does an excellent job of teaching basic knowledge and skills
Encourages individuals to obtain a license
Reduces state license issuing costs
Is accepted by government agencies, national organizations, motorcyclists and the public
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15. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Who decides the role rider education plays? The state should decide the role rider education will play in its motorcycle safety effort
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16. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Should rider education address the issues and concerns identified in the state’s motorcycle crash data (problem identification)?
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17. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
State options for rider education
Status quo - Continue to train primarily entry level riders and some current riders
Report numbers trained
Issue licenses through licensing waiver
Focus on training new instructors, updating instructors, quality assurance, preventing instructor “drift”, purchasing training motorcycles, doing outreach events, purchasing training motorcycles and equipment and protecting dedicated funds
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18. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
State options for rider education - continued
Explore ways to make it an integral and essential part of the motorcycle safety effort
Incorporate state crash information into classroom and skill exercises
Develop and implement an on-going process to evaluate the value and impact of rider education on the state’s motorcycle safety effort
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19. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
State options for rider education - continued
Distribute information regarding motorcycle safety issues to participants prior, during and after the course
Collect and link training information to other state databases to assist in conducting research and evaluating the state’s motorcycle safety effort
Explore approaches to share resources and funds to support other motorcycle safety projects in the state’s motorcycle safety effort
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20. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Other options that may impact motorcycle safety concerns
Study the feasibility and value of an introductory course
Give consideration to using personally owned motorcycles or larger engine displacement training motorcycles in entry level courses
Re-evaluate the licensing waiver program to determine what training would be appropriate for licensing
Consider creating and implementing a “mentoring” effort to assist new riders to gain “road” experience
Ask the motorcyclists what would encourage them to participate in life- long learning
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21. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Is your rider education program contributing to the reduction of motorcycle crashes, injuries and fatalities in your state? Is it part of your state’s comprehensive motorcycle safety effort?
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22. Contact information Andy Krajewski
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23. The Role of Rider Education in Motorcycle Safety
Rider Training Enrollment and Completion Data
Course Participant Information
Crash Data
Motorist (road user) Information
EMS Reports
Collect, Analyze and Interpret Data
Create Action Plan for Rider Training
Citation Data
Hospital Reports
Highway and Traffic Engineering
Licensing Data
Vehicle Registration Data
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