Recent Trends In Fatal Motorcycle Crashes

This report provides insight and an update into the recent continued increasing trend in motorcycle rider fatalities. The analysis was based on 1995-2004 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of all fatal motor vehicle crashes; Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) motorcycle sales and market distribution data; Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) motorcycle registration and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) data; and United States Census Bureau general population data.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has declared that motorcycle fatalities represent the nation's greatest highway traffic safety challenge. Over the past decade, the number of motorcycle fatalities has more than doubled over the past decade, representing 14% of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths. While part of this increase can be attributed to an increase in the number of motorcyclists, the number of fatalities is increasing at a greater rate than the overall increase in ridership. An understanding of the factors involved in motorcycle crashes is needed in order to develop effective safety measures that will reduce the rate of motorcycle crashes and fatalities. This book examines the helmet use of motorcycle riders 21 and older involved in fatal crashes. The analysis is based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) over the years 1997-2006. In addition, the characteristics of lower-extremity injuries among motorcyclists involved in traffic crashes are defined. Areas that may explain the possible causes for the recent continued increases in motorcycle rider fatalities are also examined. Furthermore, this book describes strategies for the Department to improve motorcycle safety during FY 2008 and 2009. Key Department motorcycle safety initiatives include creating a training program designed to educate police on motorcycle safety and the specific enforcement efforts they can undertake to reduce motorcycle crashes and a comprehensive examination of the factors that causes crashes, which will help the Department develop stronger programs and strategies to combat the rising trends in motorcycle crashes. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.

"The Global status report on road safety 2015, reflecting information from 180 countries, indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths has plateaued at 1.25 million per year, with the highest road traffic fatality rates in low-income countries. In the last three years, 17 countries have aligned at least one of their laws with best practice on seat-belts, drink-driving, speed, motorcycle helmets or child restraints. While there has been progress towards improving road safety legislation and in making vehicles safer, the report shows that the pace of change is too slow. Urgent action is needed to achieve the ambitious target for road safety reflected in the newly adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: halving the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2020. Made possible through funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, this report is the third in the series, and provides a snapshot of the road safety situation globally, highlighting the gaps and the measures needed to best drive progress."--Publisher's description.