table of contents - national highway traffic safety ...ii. state of motorcycle safety t he effects...
TRANSCRIPT
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Table of Contents
I. Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
II. StateofMotorcycleSafety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
III. ExternalFactors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
IV. CurrentandFutureInitiatives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A.DataandResearch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
B. FMVSSNo.218CompliantHelmetsandOtherPersonalProtectiveEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
C. RiderEducationandTraining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
D.Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
E. RiderImpairment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
F. MotoristAwarenessandMotorcycleConspicuity. . . . 24
G.Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
H.RoadwayInfrastructure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
V. InternationalEfforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
VI. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | �
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� | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | �
SignificantgainshavebeenmadesincetheenactmentofFederalmotorvehicleandhighwaysafetylegislationin1966;how-ever,theannualtolloftrafficcrashesstillremainstragicallyhigh.In2004,theNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration’sFatalityAnalysisReportingSystem(FARS)andGeneralEstimatesSystem(GES)revealedthatanestimated42,636peoplewerekilledandanother2.8millionwereinjuredonourNation’sroadways.Trafficcrashescontinuetoaccountfor95percentofalltransportationfatalitiesand99percentofinjuries,andrepresenttheleadingcauseofdeathfortheagegroup4through34yearsold.ThelargenumberofcrasheshasplacedaconsiderableburdenonourNation’shealthcaresystemaffectingtheeconomy,reaching$230.6billionayear,anaverageof$820foreverypersonlivingintheUnitedStates.1
People Killed in Motor Vehicle Crashes, by Role and Year
RoleYear
Change % Change2003 2004
Occupants* 33,627 33,134 -493 -1.50%
Drivers 23,352 23,063 -289 -1.20%
Passengers 10,171 9,991 -180 -1.80%
Motorcycle Riders
3,714 4,008 +294 +7.90%
Non-Occupants 5,543 5,494 -49 -0.90%
Pedestrians 4,774 4,641 -133 -2.80%
Pedalcyclists 629 725 +96 +15%
Other** 140 128 -12 -8.60%
TOTAL 42,884 42,636 -248 -0.60%
* Includes unknown occupants of motor vehicles in transport. ** Includes occupants of motor vehicles not in transport and of
non-motor vehicle transport devices.
I. IntroductionRecentdataindicatesthatdeathsandinjuriesattributabletomotorcyclecrashesarebecomingalargerportionofthispublichealthproblem.Motorcyclecrash-relatedfatalitieshavebeenincreasingsince1997,andinjurieshavebeenincreasingsince1998.SincethepassageoftheHighwaySafetyandNationalTrafficandMotorVehicleSafetyActof1966,anestimated128,000motorcyclistshavediedintrafficcrashes.Allroadusersareurgedtoprotectthemselvesfrominjuryordeathbywearingsafetybelts,drivingunimpaired,andobservingtrafficrules.Manymotorcycledeathscouldbepreventedifmotorcyclistswouldtakeresponsibilityforensuringtheyhavedoneeverythingpossibletomaketheirridesafe.Thisincludestakingaridertrainingcourseandobtainingthelicenseendorsementneededtolegallyoperateamotorcycle,wearingpersonalprotectivegearincludingaFederalMotorVehicleSafetyStandard(FMVSS)No.218-complianthelmet,andridingunimpaired.Additionally,motoristsneedtoheightentheirawarenessofmotorcyclistsandsharetheroadsafelywiththeseandothermotorvehicles.
Motorcycle Riders Killed, by YearCalender
Year FatalitiesCalender
Year Fatalities
1975 3,189 1990 3,2441976 3,312 1991 2,8061977 4,104 1992 2,3951978 4,577 1993 2,4491979 4,894 1994 2,3201980 5,144 1995 2,2271981 4,906 1996 2,1611982 4,453 1997 2,1161983 4,265 1998 2,2941984 4,608 1999 2,4831985 4,564 2000 2,8971986 4,566 2001 3,1971987 4,036 2002 3,2701988 3,662 2003 3,7141989 3,141 2004 4,008
Total 105,0021Blincoe,Larry.(May2002).The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes,2000,(DOTHS809446).Washington,D.C.:NationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration.
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� | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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II. State of Motorcycle Safety
Theeffectsofacrashinvolvingamotorcyclecanbedevastat-ing.AccordingtoNHTSA’sFARSdata,whiletotaltrafficdeathsdecreasedby0.6percentin2004,motorcycledeathsincreasedby8percent,comparedto2003.Motorcyclistfatali-tieshaveincreasedeachyearsincereachinganhistoriclowof2,116in1997.In2004,4,008motorcyclistswerekilled,anincreaseofover89percentbetween1997and2004.Withoutthissubstantialincreaseinmotorcyclistfatalitiesbetween1997and2004,overallhighwayfatalitieswouldhaveexperiencedamarkedreductionof4.4percentoverthissametimeperiod.
Total Versus Motorcycle Rider Fatalities by Year, 1997-2004
FatalitiesYear
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004Total 42,013 41,501 41,717 41,945 42,196 43,005 42,884 42,636Change --- -512 +216 +228 +251 +809 -121 -248Motorcycle Riders
2,116 2,294 2,483 2,897 3,197 3,270 3,714 4,008
Change --- +178 +189 +414 +300 +73 +444 +294Percent of all Fatalities
5.00% 5.50% 6.00% 6.90% 7.60% 7.60% 8.70% 9.40%
2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | �
The2004motorcycleriderfatalitydatarepresentsthethird-largestpercentageincreasesince1987andreflectsthelevelslastseenthatyear.In2004,themotorcycleriderfatalityrateincreasedto39.89per100millionvehiclemilestraveled(VMT),withmotorcycleriderfatalitiesmakingup9.4percentofallmotorvehicletrafficcrashfatalities.Twenty-fiveStatesareatorbelowthenationalaverageof6.9motorcyclefatalitiesper10,000registeredmotorcycles.Twenty-fiveStates,theDistrictofColumbia,andPuertoRicoareabovethenationalaverage.RuralareasandsouthernStatescontinuetoexperiencehighermotorcyclefatalities.
Likewise,in2004,76,000motorcyclistswereinjuredintrafficcrashes,13percentmorethanthe67,000motorcycliststhatwereinjuredin2003.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | 7
Motorcycle Rider Fatalities and Injuries and Fatality and Injury Rates, 1994-2004
Year Fatalities Registered VehiclesFatality
Rate*
Vehicle Miles
Traveled (millions)
Fatality Rate**
1994 2,320 3,756,555 61.76 10,240 22.66 1995 2,227 3,897,191 57.14 9,797 22.73 1996 2,161 3,871,599 55.82 9,920 21.78 1997 2,116 3,826,373 55.30 10,081 20.99 1998 2,294 3,879,450 59.13 10,283 22.31 1999 2,483 4,152,433 59.80 10,584 23.46 2000 2,897 4,346,068 66.66 10,469 27.67 2001 3,197 4,903,056 65.20 9,639 33.17 2002 3,270 5,004,156 65.35 9,552 34.23 2003 3,714 5,370,035 69.16 9,577 38.78 2004 4,008 5,780,870 69.33 10,048 39.89
Year Injuries Registered Vehicles Injury Rate*Vehicle
Miles Traveled (millions)
Injury Rate**
1994 57,000 3,756,555 1,528 10,240 5611995 57,000 3,897,191 1,475 9,797 5871996 55,000 3,871,599 1,428 9,920 5571997 53,000 3,826,373 1,374 10,081 5221998 49,000 3,879,450 1,262 10,283 4761999 50,000 4,152,433 1,204 10,584 4722000 58,000 4,346,068 1,328 10,469 5512001 60,000 4,903,056 1,229 9,639 6252002 65,000 5,004,156 1,293 9,552 6772003 67,000 5,370,035 1,250 9,577 7012004 76,000 5,780,870 1,321 10,048 760
* Rate per 100,000 registered vehicles. ** Rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Source: Vehicle miles traveled and registered vehicles — Federal Highway Administration.Traffic deaths — Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), NHTSA. Traffic injuries — General Estimates System (GES), NHTSA.
Pervehiclemilestraveledin2004,motorcyclistswereabout34timesmorelikelythanpassengercaroccupantstodieinamotorvehicletrafficcrashand8timesmorelikelytobeinjured.Thisisasteepincreasefrom1997,whenmotorcyclistswere15timesmorelikelytodieinacrashthanpeopleridinginpassengercars.Perregisteredvehicle,thefatalityrateformotorcyclistsin2004was4.8timeshigherthanthefatalityrateforpassengercaroccupants.Theinjuryrateforpassengercaroccupantsperregisteredvehiclewas1.1timeslowerthantheinjuryrateformotorcyclists.In2004,motorcyclistsaccount-edfor9percentoftotaltrafficfatalities,11percentofalloccupantfatalities,and3percentofalloccupantsinjured,whileonlyaccount-ingfor2percentofallregisteredvehiclesand0.3percentofvehiclemilestraveledonU.S.roadways.
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n In2004,therewere1,803two-vehiclefatalcrashesinvolvingamotorcycleandanothervehicle.In39percent(711)ofthesecrashes,theothervehiclewasturningleftwhilethemotorcyclewasgoingstraight,passing,orovertakingthevehicle.Bothvehiclesweregoingstraightin465crashes(26%).
n In2004,36percentofallmotorcyclistsinvolvedinfatalcrasheswerespeeding,whichisapproximatelytwicetheratefordriversofpassengercarsorlighttrucks.Thepercentageofalcoholinvolvementwas31percenthigherformotorcycliststhanfordriversofpassengervehicles.
n Forty-onepercentofthe1,672motorcycleoperatorswhodiedinsingle-vehiclecrashesin2004hadbloodalcoholconcentration(BAC)levelsof.08gramsperdeciliter(g/dL)orhigher.Sixtypercentofthosekilledinsingle-vehiclecrashesonweekendnightshadBAClevelsof.08g/dLorhigher.
Motorcycle Quick Factsn In2004,2,105(51%)ofall
motorcyclesinvolvedinfatalcrashescollidedwithanothermotorvehicle.Intwo-vehiclecrashes,78percentofthemo-torcyclesinvolvedwerestruckinthefront.Only6percentwerestruckintherear.
n Motorcyclesaremorelikelythanothervehiclestobeinvolvedinafatalcollisionwithafixedobject.In2004,26percentofthemotorcyclesinvolvedinfatalcrashescollidedwithfixedobjects,comparedto18percentforpassengercars,12percentforlighttrucks,and4percentforlargetrucks.
n Motorcyclesarealsomorelikelythanothervehiclestobeinvolvedinaninjurycollisionwithafixedobject.In2004,11percentofthereportedinjurycrashesinvolvingmotorcycleswerefixed-objectcrashes,comparedto9percentforpassengercars,7percentforlighttrucks,and4percentforlargetrucks.
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n Datafor2004showsthatmotorcycleriderfatalitiesincreasedforeveryagegroup,butthegreatestincreaseswereexperiencedinthe20-29andthe40-and-olderagegroups.
n ThepercentagewithBAC.08g/dLorabovewashighestforfatallyinjuredoperatorsbetweentheagesof35and39(39%),followedbyages40to44(38%)andages45to49(34%).
n Motorcycleenginesizealsocontinuestobecorrelatedwithfatalcrashes.In2004,mid-sizeengines(501to1,000cc)showedthelargestnumberswith1,631fatalities,followedbythelargestengines(1,001to1,500cc)with1,542fatalities.Smaller-engine(upto500cc)fatalitieshavebeendecreasingovertheyears,with221fatalitiesin2004.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | 9
III. External Factors
2Risinggascostsdriveupnumberofmotorcyclists,The Times and Democrat,October9,2005,www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2005/10/09/news/doc4349da88c92d5645406710.txt
3Two-wheelersonTrackfor13thStraightYearofGrowth,Discover Today’s Motorcycling, Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC),October17,2005,www.motorcycles.org/dtm. cfm?pagename=Media%20News%20Bureau&content= 04EAEF84-995B-8C20-5BE0F2B1FBE620B9&referer= Media%20Releases
4Alaska,Arkansas,Mississippi,andtheDistrictofColumbiadonothaveState-sponsoredridertraining.
Motorcyclesarebecomingmoreandmoreprevalentinthevehiclefleetmix.Thepopularityofthismodeoftransportationisattributedtothelowinitialcostofamotorcycle,itsuseasarecre-ationalvehicle,and,forsomemodels,thegoodfuelefficiency.Oncethoughtthatwarmweatherbroughtoutthemotorcycleenthusiast,themotor-cycleindustryisnowexpectingtheincreasedpriceoffueltonotonlyfurtherincreasesales,buttoextendtheridingseasonintothewintermonths.2In2004,newunitmotorcyclesalessurpassedtheonemillionmark,reachinglevelsnotseensincethe1970s.However,accordingtotheMotorcycleIndustryCouncil(MIC),motorcycleandscootersalesjumpedevenhigherinthe2005summersalesseasonthanduring2004,furtherdemonstrat-ingAmerica’sgrowingpassionfortwo-wheeling.3MICstatisticsshowthatamong12oftheleadingbrands,salesofon-highwaymodelsforthethirdquarterof2005wereup16percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2004.
AccordingtotheMIC,1973wasthehighpointforannualmotorcyclesales,whenAmericanspur-chasedmorethan1.5millionmotorcycles.Salesin1979toppedtheonemillionmark,buttaperedduringthe1980sandearly1990s.Motorcyclingreboundedin1993andthenumbershavegrowneveryyearsince.
U.S. New-on-Highway Unit Motorcycle Sales, 1992-2004
Year Unit Year Unit1992 186,000 1999 379,0001993 201,000 2000 471,0001994 210,000 2001 556,0001995 214,000 2002 618,0001996 228,000 2003 662,0001997 247,000 2004 725,0001998 298,000
Source: Motorcycle Industry Council
Statemotorcycleridertrainingprogramscontinuetohavedifficultymeetingtheincreaseddemand.Currently,47Stateshavelegislatedridereducationandtrainingprograms.4SomeStatesdomandatetrainingformotorcyclistsunderacertainage(generally18).However,manyreportwaitingtimesofuptoseveralmonthstocompleteacourse.
In2004,25percentofmotorcycleoperatorskilledintrafficcrasheswerenotlicensedorwereim-properlylicensedtooperateamotorcycle.Bynotobtainingamotorcycleoperatorlicense,ridersarebypassingtheonlymethodStatelicensingagencieshavetoensureridershavetheminimumknowl-edgeandskillsneededtooperateamotorcycle.
Oneofthemainreasonsmotorcyclistsarekilledincrashesisbecausethemotorcycleitselfprovidesvirtuallynoprotectioninacrash.Anautomobilehasstructuredfeaturesandrestraintsystemstoprovideprotectiontotheoccupant.Inaddition,ithasmorestabilitybecauseitisonfourwheels,andbecauseofitssize,itiseasiertobeseen.Amo-torcyclesuffersincomparisonwhenconsideringvehiclecharacteristicsthatdirectlycontributetooccupantsafety.
TheuseofaFederalMotorVehicleSafetyStan-dard(FMVSS)No.218complianthelmetlow-ersthefatalityandinjuryratesofmotorcyclists.Decadesofresearchhasconsistentlyshownthathelmetsarethemosteffectivepieceofsafetygearformotorcycleriders.Helmetsareestimatedto
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be37percenteffectiveinpreventingfatalinjuriestomotorcyclists.5Motorcyclehelmetuselawsarethemosteffectivewaytogetallmotorcycliststowearhelmets.Formorethan35years,Stateshaveenacted,amended,repealed,andre-enactedmo-torcyclehelmetlaws,usuallyamidintensepublicdebate.CongresshaspassedlegislationaffectingStatemotorcyclehelmetlawsfourtimesduringthisperiod.
Congressional Motorcycle Helmet Use Legislation Timeline
1966-1975 All but three States (Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa) enact helmet laws in response to a Federal requirement.
1976-1980 Congress eliminates sanctions: Half the States repeal/amend helmet laws.
1981-1988 No action.
1989-1994 Gradual re-enactment and Congressional encouragement to pass helmet laws.
1995-2003 Congressional leniency on helmet laws; six States repeal.
2004 Louisiana reinstates State universal helmet law.
In2005,20States,theDistrictofColumbia,andPuertoRicorequiredhelmetusebyallmotorcycleoperatorsandpassengers.Inanother27States,onlypeopleunderaspecificage,usually18,wererequiredtowearhelmets.ThreeStates(Colo-rado,Illinois,andIowa)havenolawsrequiringhelmetuse.
Manyotherfactorsaffectmotorcyclefatalityandinjuryrates.States,localjurisdictions,nationalorganizations,andindividualseachhavearespon-sibilityforensuringmotorcyclesafety.Asstatedpreviously,ridersneedtotakepersonalrespon-sibilityfortheirownsafetybytakingridertrain-ingcourses,obtainingproperlicensure,wearingFMVSSNo.218complianthelmetsandotherprotectivegear,andridingunimpaired.Likewise,motoristsneedtoheightenawarenessofmotorcy-clistsandsharetheroadsafelywiththeseandothermotorvehicles.
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5SeeNHTSA2004TrafficSafetyFactsatwww-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2004/809908.pdf
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
IV. Current and Future Initiatives
In1997,NHTSAworkedwiththeMotorcycleSafetyFoundation(MSF),anationalnonprofitorganizationpromotingsafemotorcycling,toprovidetheleadershipandresourcestocreatetheNational Agenda for Motorcycle Safety (NAMS). NAMSisastrategicplanningdocumentthatpro-videsasharednationalvisionforfuturemotorcyclesafetyeffortsbyincorporatinginputfromabroad,multi-disciplinaryspectrumofstakeholders.Developingthisframeworkinvolvedparticipationbyindustry,research,trainingexperts,ridercom-munities,lawenforcement,healthcare,media,andinsurancecompanies.Theresultwasacollabora-tivedocumentthatexaminescomponentsofmo-torcyclesafetyprogramsattheFederal,State,andlocallevelsandoffersstrategiesforbroad-basedsupportandaction.Itservesasacomprehensivenationalblueprint,whichallinterestedpartiescanusetopromoteandenhancemotorcyclesafety.6
NAMS’srecommendationsandactionitemswerebasedondatafrom1998and1999.By2000itbecameclearthatanupwardtrendinmotorcyclecrash-relatedfatalitiescontinuedfromtheincreas-esnotedin1998.Recentdatacontinuestorevealnewandemergingtrendsinvolvingrisesinruralversusurbanfatalitiesanddeathsamongolderridersonlargermotorcycles.Thesetrendswereun-knownand,consequently,notaddressedinNAMS.
InJanuary2003,NHTSAreleaseditsMotorcycle Safety Program Plan.7Thisdocumentcenteredoncrashprevention,whichoffersthegreatestpotentialsafetybenefitformotorcyclists,whilealsoaddressinginjurymitigationandemergencyresponse.Theplanencompassedmajorareasofconcern,includingtheneedformorebehavioralandvehicleresearch,aswellastheneedtoobtain
morecompletedataonspecificaspectsofmotor-cyclecrashes.Italsoaddressedissuesofroadwaydesignthatcanenhanceoperatorsafety.Theprogramplanwasbuiltoncurrentandpastefforts,andalsoaddressedanumberofconcernsraisedintheNAMSincludingmaterialdesignedformedicalprofessionalstoteachcritical“firstonthesceneofamotorcyclecrash”life-savingtechniquestomotorcyclistsandthegeneralpublic.InMarch2005,NHTSAreleaseditsFirst There, First Care trainingguidefulfillingthiskeyrecommendationfromtheNAMS.
ThisdocumentupdatesNHTSA’s2003 Motorcycle Safety Program PlanandcontinuestoalignwithNAMSonsomeefforts,butalsofocusesitseffortsonmorerecenttrendsrevealedbyNHTSA’sFARSdata.ItpresentstheprioritiesandspecificprograminitiativesthatNHTSAintendstopursueintheshortandlongterm.ThedocumentisconsistentwithNHTSA’sstatutoryresponsibilitiesinpromot-ingmotorcyclesafety.
6 TherecommendationsinNAMSarenotrecommendationsdirectedtoNHTSAoranyFederalGovernmentagency.Thosestakeholdersinthemotorcycleandtrafficsafetycom-munitymayadoptandaddressanyrecommendationwithintheirauthorityasappropriate.
7 SeeNHTSA’s2003MotorcycleSafetyProgramatwww.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/motor-cycle03/index.htm
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Inaddition,theagencyiscurrentlydevelopingaNAMSimplementationguide.ThisguideisbeingdevelopedtoassistStates,localagencies,andorga-nizationsinimplementingthegoalsoutlinedintheNAMS.TheguidewillfocusontheNAMSrecom-mendationsthatcanbeimplementedbyStateandlocalgovernmentsandnongovernmentalorganiza-tions,whichinclude:
n increasingaccesstoridereducationprograms;n increasingtheproportionofmotorcyclistswho
areproperlylicensed;n reducingthenumberofmotorcyclistsriding
whileimpaired;n increasingmotorcyclists’visibility;n increasinghelmetusage;andn increasingothermotorists’awarenessof
motorcyclists.
TheSafe,Accountable,Flexible,EfficientTranspor-tationEquityAct:ALegacyforUsers(SAFETEA-LU)Pub.L.,109-59,enactedonAugust10,2005,reauthorizedmanyofNHTSA’sexistingprogramsandaddednewonestocarryoutNHTSA’sregulatoryactivitiesandpolicyagenda.Section2010ofSAFETEA-LUauthorizesanewStatemotorcyclistsafetygrantprogramtosupportridertraining,motoristawareness,andimpaireddrivingprograms.Inaddition,Section2010ofSAFETEA-LUdirectstheSecretaryofTransportationtoworkwiththeNHTSAadministratortodevelopandprovideStateswithmodellanguageforuseintrafficsafetyeducationcourses,driver’smanuals,andotherdriver’strainingmaterialsinstructingdriversontheimportanceofsharingtheroadsafelywithmotorcyclists.
Section2003ofSAFETEA-LUdirectstheSecretaryofTransportationto“conductastudyoneducational,publicinformation,andotheractivitiestargetedatreducingmotorcyclecrashesandresultingfatalitiesandinjuries,wheretheoperatorofthemotorcyclewasimpaired.”Section5511ofSAFETEA-LUauthorizesgrantstotheOklahomaTransportationCentertoconductacomprehensivemotorcyclecrashcausationstudyusingtheOrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment(OECD)methodology.TheFederalHighwayAdministration(FHWA)isoverseeingthiseffort.Last,Section1914of
SAFETEA-LUauthorizesaMotorcyclistAdvisoryCounciltocoordinatewithandadvisetheFHWAadministratoroninfrastructureissuesofconcerntomotorcyclists.
NHTSAwillcontinuetojoinwithFHWAandthemotorcycleandtrafficsafetycommunitiestoimprovemotorcyclesafety.Indoingso,arenewednationalcomprehensiveeffortneedstotakeplaceatalllevels–Federal,State,local,andindividual–inordertoreducethenumberoffatalitiesandinjuriesattributabletomotorcyclecrashes.
NHTSAwillcontinuetoencourageStatestosponsormotorcyclesafetytechnicalprogramassessments(MSPA)andtousetheresultstobetterunderstandhowexistingStateandFederalresourcesarebeingdistributed,aswellastoidentifyandaddressinefficienciesinfundingandstrengthentheStates’comprehensivemotorcyclesafetyprograms.NHTSAwillcontinuetoencourageStatestoelevatemotorcyclesafetyasapriority;betterquantify,analyzeanddocumenttheproblems;andseekandimplementscience-basedinnovativesolutions.
NHTSAregionalofficesarerequestingthattheirStatesholdmeetingstoraisethepublic’sawarenessaboutmotorcyclesafetyissuesandtodevelopcoalitionstoaddressStatemotorcyclesafetyissues.Stateswillbeaskedtoevaluatetheirridertrainingprogramstodetermineiftheyaremeetingthegrowingdemandforbothbeginnerandadvancedridersafetytraining.StatesthatdonothavethenecessaryresourcestoaddressdrivertraininginatimelymannerwillbeaskedtoexpandtheStatestrainingcapabilities.IfaStatedoesnothaveaState-administeredmotorcycleridereducationprogram,theNHTSARegionalOfficeswillrequestthattheStatesdetermineifaState-operatedpro-gramisfeasible.TheNHTSARegionalofficeswillalsoworkwithStatestohelpeducateandincreaseenforcementinareasrelatedtomotorcyclesafety.
SomeoftheregionshaveworkedwithStatestoestablishpartnershipswithnontraditionalentitiessuchasmanufacturersandadvocacygroups,expandboththeavailabilityofandpublicityforridertrainingprograms,andestablishworkinggroupsinresponsetorecenttrends.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
InMay2005,NHTSAbeganhostingquarterlymotorcyclesafetynetworkmeetingswithnationalmotorcyclingorganizationsandmanufacturerstoidentifywaystoworkcooperativelytoaddressthesignificantincreasesinmotorcyclecrashesandtheresultingfatalitiesandinjuries.NHTSAwillcontinuetohostthesequarterlymeetingsheldinWashington,DC.
InFebruary2006,theagencypublishedaFederal RegisternoticeproposingtoupdateHighwaySafetyGuidelineNo.3–MotorcycleSafety.NHTSAplanstopublishtheupdatedguidelineonmotorcyclesafetyinthesummerof2006.Theguidelinepro-videsStatehighwaysafetyofficescurrentinfor-mationoneffectiveprogramcontentforStatestouseindevelopingandassessingtheirtrafficsafetyprograms.
OthermotorcycleinitiativesbeingpursuedbyNHTSAtoaddressthegrowingproblemofmo-torcyclefatalitiesandinjuries,alongwithmoredetailedinformationonplannedSAFETEA-LUactivities,aredescribedbelow.
A. Data and Research NHTSA’sFARSdataprovidesinformationonwhoisinvolvedinmotorcyclecrashes,butitdoesnotprovideinformationonwhyamotorcyclistcrashed.
Background on IssueWhileNHTSAhasaconsiderableknowledgebaseregardingmotorcyclecrashes,thedatastilldoesnotanswerthequestionastowhymotorcyclefatalitiesareontherise.Fromrecentdata,NHTSAhaslearnedwhoiscrashingandalsowheremostmotorcyclecrashesoccur,butstillneedstodeterminewhyolderriderswithbiggerbikesonourNation’sruralroadwayscontinuetorepresentthefastestgrowinggroupoffatalities.Basicquestionsremainincluding:Whatarethecharacteristicsofmotorcycleridersandtheirridinghabitsthatdistinguishthosewhoarecrash-involvedfromthosewhoarenot?Whatistheriskofcrashinvolvementatincreasingbloodalcohollevels?Whatvehicle-,roadway-,driver-,andrider-relatedfactorsareassociatedwiththerecentincreaseinmotorcyclefatalities?
Highlights of Current ProgramNHTSAhascollectedandanalyzeddataonmo-torcyclecrashessince1975.NHTSA’sNationalCenterforStatisticsandAnalysis(NCSA)providesanalyticalandstatisticalsupporttotheagencyandtothehighwaysafetycommunitythroughdatacol-lection,crashinvestigation,anddataanalysis.
In1999,withmotorcyclistfatalitiesinsingle-ve-hiclecrashesaccountingforalmosthalf(46%)ofthefatalitiesfromallfatalmotorcyclecrashes,thereport-Fatal Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes(DOTHS809360),waswrittentoprovideinsightintothepossiblecausesforthesefatalities.Theanalysiswasbasedon1990-1999datafromFARS.
Motorcyclist Fatalities in 2000 Research Note (DOTHS809387),releasedinDecember2001,com-paredthe2000FARStothetrendsandratesfromtheearlierreport.
InJune2001,NCSAreleasedRecent Trends in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes(DOTHS809271),areportthatexaminedallmotorcyclefatalitiesfrom1990to1999.ThisreportincludesanalysesfromFARS,MIC,FHWA,andtheUnitedStatesCensusBureauinexploringtherecentincreasesinthenumberofmotorcyclistfatalitiesandcontributingvariables.
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InSeptember2005,NCSAreleasedMotorcycle Helmet Use in 2005 — Overall Results(DOTHS809937).TheNationalOccupantProtectionUseSurvey(NOPUS)istheonlyprobability-basedobservationalsurveyofmotorcyclehelmetuseintheUnitedStates.Thesurveyobservesusageasitactuallyoccursatarandomselectionofroadwaysites,andsoprovidesthebesttrackingofhelmetuseintheUnitedStates.Itshowedthathelmetusedeclinednationwideto58percentin2004from71percentin2000.
Mostrecently,inOctober2005NCSAreleasedImpaired Motorcycle Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes(DOTHS809939).ThedatawasobtainedfromNHTSA’sFARSdatabase,whichannuallycol-lectsimpaired-ridingcrashstatisticsfromthe50States,theDistrictofColumbia,andPuertoRico.Thereportfoundanincreaseinthenumberofim-paired(BAC>=.08)motorcycleoperatorsinvolvedinfatalcrashesoverthepastfewyears.
Proposed InitiativesAsstatedabove,NCSAreleasedacomprehensivestudyrelatingtofatalmotorcyclecrashesinJune2001.Thisstudywascompletedinresponsetoareversalintrendsincefatalitiesincreasedtwoyearsinarowafterdecliningeachyearbetween1993and1997,reachinganhistoriclowof2,116fatali-tiesin1997.NCSAwillupdatethisstudysincemotorcycleriderfatalitieshavenowincreasedforsevenyearsinarowsince1997.Trenddatafrom1997to2004willbeanalyzedalongwithdatafromMICandexposuredatafromFHWA.
Theagencywillalsodeterminethecharacteristicsofmotorcycleoperatorsintoday’sgeneralriderpopulationand,totheextentpossible,thechar-acteristics,behaviors,andexperiencesassociatedwithmotorcyclistswhobecomeinvolvedinacrash.Datatobecollectedincludebiographicanddemographiccharacteristics,ridinghabits,ridertraining,crashinvolvement,andlicensingstatus.
SAFETEA-LUauthorizestheFHWAtoconductacomprehensivemotorcyclecrashcausationstudythroughtheOklahomaTransportationCenter.NHTSAiscurrentlyconductingapilotstudyto
developaprotocolforusingthemethodologydefinedbytheOECD.Thismethodspecifieshowin-depthinvestigationsshouldbeconductedatthecrashscenesduringtheimmediatepost-crashperiod,aswellasspecificdataelementstobecollected.Datatobeacquiredincludesroadwayandenvironmentalconditions,aswellasallinvolvedvehiclesandequipment.Also,in-depthinterviewswithriders,motorists,andavailablewitnesseswillbeconductedon-scenetotheextentpossible,andallridersandmotoristswillalsobetestedforalcoholusingPreliminaryBreathTestersbyresearchersworkingtobetterunderstandmotorcyclecrashcausesandcountermeasurestothesecrashes.Oncetheprotocolissufficientlydeveloped,itwillbemadeavailableforuseonthecomprehensivecrashcausationstudy.
Expected Program OutcomesUltimately,thecollectionandanalysisofdataonmotorcycleoperatorcharacteristicsshouldenableNHTSAtoimprovethetypesofcountermeasuresdevelopedforreducingtheoccurrenceofinjury-producingcrashes.NHTSA’sdatacollectionandresearcheffortswillalsocontinuetotrytoresolvequestionssurroundingthemedicaloutcomesofcrash-involvedmotorcyclistsincludingshort-andlong-termeffectsandthecostsofrehabilitationforinjuredoperators.
B. FMVSS No. 218 Compliant Helmets and Other Personal Protective Equipment
Helmetsandpersonalprotectiveequipmentwornbymotorcyclistsprovidetheprimarydefenseagainstinjuryinacrash.Studiesshowthatthehead,arms,andlegsaremostofteninjuredinacrash.Unhelmetedmotorcyclistsinvolvedincrashesarethreetimesmorelikelytosufferbraininjuresthanthosewearinghelmets.8Protectiveclothingandequipmentserveathree-foldpur-poseformotorcyclists:comfortandprotectionfromtheelements;injuryprotection;andthrough
8NationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration.(Febru-ary1996).ReporttoCongress:BenefitsofSafetyBeltsandMotorcycleHelmets.(DOTHS808347).Washington,DC:NationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
theuseofcolororreflectivematerial,ameansforothermotoriststoseethemotorcyclist.Motorcycleoperatorsandpassengersshouldusethefollowingpersonalprotectivegear:n motorcyclehelmetsthatmeetFMVSSNo.218;n properclothing(preferablyretroreflective),in-
cludinggloves,boots,longpants,andadurablelong-sleevedjacket;and
n eyeandfaceprotection.
Background on IssueDecadesofresearchhasconsistentlyshownthathelmetsarethemosteffectivepieceofsafetygearformotorcycleriders.Helmetsareestimatedtobe37percenteffectiveinpreventingfatalinjuriesand67percentinpreventingbraininjuriestomotorcyclists.Thismeansforevery100motorcyclistskilledincrasheswhilenotwearinghelmets,37ofthemcouldhavebeensavedhadall100wornhelmets.In2004,abouttwo-thirdsofthefatallyinjuredmotorcycleriderswerenotwearinghelmetsinStateswithoutuniversalhelmetlaws(lawrequiringallmotorcycleoperatorsandpassengerstowearhelmets)comparedto15percentinStateswithuniversalhelmetlaws.NHTSAestimatesthathelmetssavedthelivesof1,316motorcyclistsin2004.Ifallmotorcyclistshadwornhelmets,anadditional671livescouldhavebeensaved.
AccordingtoNHTSA’s2005NationalOccupantProtectionUseSurvey(NOPUS)results,helmetusedeclinedby23percentagepointsoverfiveyears,from71percentin2000to48percentin2005.Thisdropisstatisticallysignificantandcorrespondstoastriking45percentincreaseinnonuse.Incomparison,in2004,reportedhelmetuseratesforfatallyinjuredmotorcyclistswere56percentforoperatorsand47percentforpassengers.9
Since1997,sixStates(Texas,Arkansas,Kentucky,Louisiana,Florida,andPennsylvania)haverepealedtheiruniversalmotorcyclehelmetlaws.
LouisianareinstateditsuniversalmotorcyclehelmetlawinAugust2004.Currently,20states,theDistrictofColumbia,andPuertoRicorequirehelmetusebyallmotorcycleoperatorsandpassengers.Inanother27States,onlypeopleunderaspecificage,usually18,arerequiredtowearhelmets.10ThreeStates(Colorado,Illinois,andIowa)havenolawsrequiringhelmetuse.SeveralStatesarecurrentlyconsideringhelmetlawrepeals.Fatally Injured Motorcycle Riders in States with Universal Helmet Laws versus Without Universal Helmet Laws
Year 2003 2004Total in States with Universal Helmet Laws
1,610 100% 1,677 100%
Helmeted 1,365 85% 1,428 85%Not Helmeted 245 15% 249 15%Total in States without Universal Helmet Laws
2,104 100% 2,331 100%
Helmeted 615 29% 792 34%Not Helmeted 1,489 71% 1,539 66%
Motorcycle rider fatalities whose helmet use was unknown were distributed proportionally to the known use categories.Total fatalities may not add due to rounding. NHTSA’sevaluationsoftherepealofuniversalhelmetlawsinKentucky,Louisiana,Texas,Arkansas,andFloridaallshowthathelmetusedropsfromnear100-percentcompliancetoaboutthe50-percentrangewithinthefirstyear.NHTSArecentlycompleteditsevaluationofFlorida’shelmetlawrepeal.11EffectiveJuly1,2000,Floridaeliminatedthelegalrequirementthatallmotorcycleriderswearhelmets.Statelawnowrequireshelmetuseonlybyridersundertheageof21andriderswhodonotcarryatleast$10,000ofmedicalinsurance.InFlorida,motorcyclistfatalitiesincreasedby81percent,comparing2001-2003to1997-1999,comparedtoa48-percentincreasenationally.Non-fatalseriousinjuriesbeganincreasinginthefirstsixmonthsof2000,andincreasedby32percentinthefirstfullyearfollowinglawrepeal.Therewasa40-percentincreaseinthenumberofinjuredmotorcyclistswhowereadmittedtohospitals,withadmission
92005fatalitydatanotyetavailable10Age-specificlawsareverydifficulttoenforce.11SeeNHTSA’sEvaluationoftheAll-RiderMotorcycle
HelmetLawinFloridaatwww.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/FlaMCReport/images/FloridaMCRe-portscr1.pdf.
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forheadinjuriesincreasingby82percent.Theaverageheadinjurytreatmentcostincreasedbyalmost$10,000,to$45,602.Onlyone-in-fourofthosehospitalizedhadcostslessthan$10,000,therequiredlevelofmedicalinsurancetoridewithoutahelmetinFlorida.
Fatalitiesincreasedby24percentabovewhatwasexpectedfromtheincreasedregistrationsafterrepealoftheall-ridermotorcyclehelmetlawinFlorida,beginningbeforethelawwasineffectinJuly.Floridacrashreportsalsoindicatedthathelmetusedeclinedmarkedlyamongridersunder21,whowerestillcoveredbythelaw.Fatalitiesinthisagegroupnearlytripled(188%increase)inthethreeyearsafterthelawchange.
Highlights of Current ProgramOnMarch1,1974,theagencyamendedPart571ofTitle49,CodeofFederalRegulations(38FR22391)toaddFMVSSNo.218,MotorcycleHel-mets,whichestablishedminimumperformancerequirementsforhelmetsdesignedforusebymotorcyclistsandothermotorvehicleusers.TherequirementsofFMVSSNo.218weremainlyadoptedfromtheAmericanNationalStandardInstitute(ANSI)Z90.1-1971titled“AmericanNa-tionalStandardforProtectiveHeadgear–forMo-torVehicularUsers–Specifications.”TheFMVSSNo.218requirementsincludedimpactattenuation,penetrationresistance,retention,labeling,projec-tions,andperipheralvision.
InJune2005,48percentofmotorcyclistsintheUnitedStatesusedDOT-complianthelmets,a10-percentdropfrom2004.12Theagencyisawareof
thepracticeofnoncomplianthelmetsbeinglabeledascertifiedhelmetsthroughtheuseofstickerssoldbysomemotorcycleshopsandothersources.13Theprimarymethodoffalsecertificationisbyaffix-ingaDOTsymboltoanon-certifiedmotorcyclehelmet.Sincethestandarddoesnotspecifytheexactconfigurationofthesymbolotherthansize,location,andcontrastingcolor,thestickercaneas-ilybemadebyanyone.Thispracticeunderminestheintentoftheagency’smotorcyclehelmetsafetystandard.ThepracticealsomakesitdifficultfortheStatestoenforcetheirmotorcyclehelmetuselaws.MotorcycleriderswhowearnoncomplianthelmetswithcounterfeitDOTstickersmayknowinglyorunknowinglyforfeittheheadprotectionthatisprovidedbycertifiedmotorcyclehelmets.Addi-tionally,ridersneedtounderstandtheimportanceofwearingacomplianthelmetandotherprotectivegearintheeventofacrash,tolimittheextentofanyinjuriessuffered.Proposed InitiativesTheIntermodalSurfaceTransportationEfficiencyAct(ISTEA)of1991requiredDOTandNHTSAtostudythebenefitsofusingsafetybeltsandmotorcyclehelmets.NHTSAreleasedthisstudyinFebruary1996.14TofurtherNHTSA’sdatacollectionandresearchefforts,NHTSA’sNCSAwillupdatethemotorcyclehelmetsportionofthisstudybasedondatafromtheCrashOutcomeDataEvaluationSystem(CODES).Imputationtechniqueswillbeimplemented,inadditiontoprobabilisticlinkage,toensurecomparisonofthetotalpopulationinvolved.
ToenhanceStatehelmetenforcementandadju-dicationefforts,NHTSAisconsideringamendingFMVSSNo.218,MotorcycleHelmets,toaddressthefalsificationofhelmetcertificationsresultingfromthenon-specificlabelingrequirementsofthemotorcyclehelmetstandard.
12SeeNHTSA’sResearchNote“MotorcycleHelmetUsein2005—OverallResults,”March2005,DOTHS809937athttp://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2005/809-937/809937.html
13Seehttp://store.helmetsrus.com/doourthst.htmlaccessedonSeptember28,2005.
14NationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration.(Febru-ary1996).ReporttoCongress:BenefitsofSafetyBeltsandMotorcycleHelmets.(DOTHS808347).Washington,DC.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | �7
NHTSAwillalsoimplementanoutreachprogramdirectedatmotorcyclehelmetmanufacturers.Tothisend,NHTSAwillattendtradeshoweventstoconductfieldinspectionsofmotorcyclehel-metsandprovideinformationtomanufacturersabouttherequirementsofFMVSSNo.218andtheagency’sproceduralrequirementsforlawfullyimportingthesehelmets.
CommunicationeffortstoassistinthisendeavorwillincludethedevelopmentofavideoclipdesignedtoassistmotorcyclistsandlawenforcementtodistinguishnoncomplianthelmetsfromthosethatmeettheFederalsafetystandardandprovideinformationonhowtochooseaproperlyfittedhelmet.ThevideoclipwillbepostedonNHTSA’sWebsite.
Additionally,NHTSAwilldevelopapublicserviceannouncementtopromotehelmetuse.Theagencywillalsoupdateitsmotorcyclehelmetusesupportmaterial.
Last,NHTSAwillconductanevaluationofthereinstatementoftheLouisianaall-riderhelmetlaw.InJune2004,Louisianareinstateditsall-riderhelmetlawinresponsetothesubstantialincreaseinmotorcyclistfatalitiesandinjuries.Theevaluationwillassessthechangesfollowingthereinstatement.Researcherswillexaminevariablessuchashelmetusagerates,lawenforcementcitationdata,fatalityandinjuryrates,injurypatternsofmotorcyclistsadmittedtotraumacenters,emergencyrooms,orlong-termrehabilitationcenters,andhealthcarecostdataforinjuredmotorcyclists.15Expected Program Outcomes NHTSA’supdateto“BenefitsofSafetyBeltsandMotorcycleHelmets”willprovidetheagency,Con-gress,andtheStateswithoutcomedataintermsofmortality,relativeincidence,injuryseverity,andhospitalcharges.Statesmaythenusethisdatawhenconsideringuniversalhelmetuselaws.
AmendmentstoFMVSSNo.218thatwouldaddressthelabelingissuepotentiallycouldresultinasafetybenefitthroughincreaseduseofproper
headprotectionbymotorcycleriders.Initialestimatesindicatethatrevisionstothelabelingprovisionmayresultincostsaslowasthreecentsperhelmetforanestimated3.6millioncertifiedhelmetsmanufacturedperyearwithatotalcostof$0.03x3,600,000=$108,000.16Inadditiontoimprovingenforceabilityandsafety,reducingthesaleanduseofunauthorizedDOTstickersonuncertifiedmotorcyclehelmetswillreducethefinancialdisadvantageforcedonmotorcyclehelmetmanufacturersthatdesign,test,andcertifytheirhelmetstothestandard.
NHTSAexpectsitsevaluationoftheLouisianaallriderhelmetlawreinstatementwillprovidefurtherdatatosupporttheefficacyofhelmetsanduniversalhelmetuselaws.Theagencybelievesthatifallridersweretoweartheproperprotectivegear,mainlyahelmetcomplyingwithFMVSSNo.218,therewouldbeareductioninriderfatalitiesandinjuries.
C. Rider Education and Training
Motorcycleridereducationprovidesanoppor-tunityfornoviceriderstolearnthebasicskillsnecessarytooperateamotorcyclesafelyandforexperiencedriderstorefreshandrefinetheirtech-niques.Tosatisfydemand,StatetrainingprogramsshouldprovidetrainingatsitesaccessiblebyridersthroughouttheStateandofferclassesfrequentlyandwithlittledelaytointerestedriders.Themo-torcycleindustryanddealersspecificallyshouldbeallowedandencouragedtohostridertrainingclassesusingStateapprovedcurriculum.
Background on IssueNHTSArecognizesthatthereisanincreasingdemandforridereducationandtrainingcoursesandthatsomeStateshavedifficultymeetingthisdemand.Although47StateshaveState-legislatedmotorcycleridereducationprograms,administra-tionvariesbetweenStates.Thegreatvariationin
15TheprojectiscurrentlyonholdduetodestructionintheregionfromHurricanesKatrinaandRita.
16DatafromOVSC.
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�8 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
ridereducationprogramsacrossStates,intermsofbothscopeandmodesofadministration,com-binedwithalackofacentralizeddatabaseonStatepractices,hasmadeitdifficultforStatesandpro-gramstoexchangeinformationandbenefitfromoneanother’soperationortrainingexperiences.
Highlights of Current ProgramTheagencycontinuestoworkwiththeMotorcycleSafetyFoundation,theAmericanAssociationofMotorVehicleAdministrators,theNationalAssociationofStateMotorcycleSafetyAdminis-trators(SMSA),andotherpartnerstoenhanceStatemotorcycleridereducationprograms.Inaddition,NHTSAhasworkedwiththeSMSAtodevelopaforecastingmethodologytoassistStateridereducationandtrainingprogramswithmeetingtheincreasingtrainingdemand,identifyingresourcesneededtomeetthedemand,anddevelopinganactionplanforreachingridereducationandtraininggoals.
InApril2005,NHTSApublishedadetailedState-by-Statelistingofridereducationandtrainingprogramstoassistwiththeexchangeofinforma-tionamongStates.InJuly2005NHTSAreleasedPromising Practices in Motorcycle Rider Education and Licensing.17ThisreportoutlinesadministrativeeffortsbyvariousStateprogramsthathaveimple-mentedhigh-qualityridertrainingandcompre-hensivelicensingprograms.Aresearch-basedmodelofpromisingpracticesinridereducationandlicensingwasusedtoexaminetheadministra-tivepracticesof47Statesthatofferstate-legislatedmotorcycleridereducation.Onthebasisofthereviewandanalysis,fivepromisingpracticeStatesinmotorcycleridereducationandlicensingwereidentifiedandfiverecommendationswereprovid-ed.TheserecommendationsprovideguidelinesforStatesinterestedinimprovingtheirridereduca-tionprogram,focusingoncriticalcomponentsofadministration,ridereducation,andlicensing.
PromisingPracticeRiderEducationandTrainingRecommendations:1.Organizeridereducationprogramandlicensing
programunderthesameadministrativeagency.2.Explorealternativesourcesoffundingtosupport
ridertrainingactivities.3.Centralizeregistrationandincreasethe
flexibilityofcourseschedules.
4.Offerclassestargetedtowardexperiencedoperatorswhoareridingwithoutalicense.
5.Implementongoingtraining,monitoring,andmentoringofinstructors.
Proposed InitiativesIncooperationwithSMSA,NHTSAwillcreateprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopstoassistStatesinimprovingtheirridereducationpro-gramsandincreaseprogramcapacitytomeetstudentdemandandreducetrainingbacklogs.Demonstrationgrantswillbeawardedtopromotetheimplementationofsuccessfulpracticesintheadministrationandoperationofridertrainingand
licensingprogramsasidentifiedinthepublicationPromising Practices in Motorcycle Rider Education and Licensing.Inaddition,theagencywillimple-menttheStatemotorcyclistsafetygrantprogramauthorizedinSAFETEA-LU.ThegrantprogramwillprovideStatesfundingtosupportridereduca-tionandmotoristawarenessprograms.
TheagencywillalsobegintoidentifycosteffectiveandefficientpoliciesandpracticestoallowStateridereducationandtrainingprogramstomaxi-mizelimitedfundingwhilecontinuingtomeetincreasingdemand.
NHTSAwillcontinuetoparticipatewiththeMary-landCODESTeam,theNationalStudyCenter,theMarylandHighwaySafetyOffice,andtheMarylandMotorVehicleAdministrationintheStatemotor-cyclesafetyadvisorycommittee.Thisadvisorycom-mitteehasfocusedonreviewingtheState’sefforts
17SeeNHTSA’sPromisingPracticesinMotorcycleRiderEducationandLicensingreportatwww.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/MotorcycleRider/pages/contents.html.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | �9
inreducingmotorcyclecrashesandfatalitiesandincreasingmotorcyclesafetyawareness.
NHTSAwillalsousethedatafromexistingCODESStatestocomparethreedistinctgroupsofmotorcyclists.Initially,dataonpeoplewhowere:(1)successfuland(2)notsuccessfulincompletingthebasicmotorcycleridertrainingcoursewillbeobtainedfromtheMVAsforcalendaryears1995through2002.Thethirdgroupwillbecomprisedofpeoplewhohaveobtainedneworrenewedmotorcyclelicensessince1995,butforwhomitisunknownastowhethertheyhavepassedamotor-cycletrainingcourse.
NHTSAandtheMSFhavejoinedtoexaminemotorcyclists’crash-avoidanceskillsinrelationtoridereducationandtraining.AmajorobjectiveofthisprojectistoevaluatetheeffectivenessofcurrentMSFridereducationandtrainingcurri-culaforimprovingridercrashavoidanceskills.Amultiyearstudyisplanned.
Expected Program OutcomesCollectively,thedesiredoutcomeforeffortsde-scribedistoallowStatestomakeimprovementstotheirridereducationprograms.Byidentify-ingcost-effectiveandefficientpoliciesandprac-ticesformotorcycleridereducationandtrainingprograms,limitedStatefundingcouldbefurthermaximized,tonotonlyassistinmeetingincreaseddemand,buttopotentiallystandardizepracticesamongStates.Byensuringtheavailabilityoftrain-ing,potentialriderswouldlearnthebasicskillsnecessarytooperateamotorcyclesafely,whichinturncouldhelpreducethenumberofmotorcycleriderseriousinjuriesandfatalities.SAFETEA-LU’sSection2010motorcyclistsafetygrantprogramwillsupportthiseffort.
ThroughtheCODESdatanetworkproject,NHTSAhopestogainabetterunderstandingofpossiblelinksbetweenarider’straininghistoryandcrashinvolvement.Toaidinthiseffort,itwouldalsobeadvantageousforaState’smotorcycleridereducationprogramtoincludeaprogramevaluationplantoofferadditionalinsightintotheeffectivenessofridertraining.
D. LicensingMotorcycleoperatorlicensingisamajorcompo-nentofacomprehensiveStatemotorcyclesafetyprogram.18Byobtainingaspecializedmotorcyclelicense,amotorcyclistdemonstratestheminimumabilityneededtosafelyoperateamotorcycleontheroadway.AllStatesandtheDistrictofColumbiarequirethatmotorcycleoperatorswhousepublicroadwayspossessavalidmotorcyclelicenseorendorsement.Toreceivealicense,operatorsmustpassawrittenknowledgeandskillstest.Beyondthesestipulations,Statesvaryintheirproceduresforlicensingridersandforencouragingunlicensedoperatorstoobtaintherequiredlicense.
Background on IssueIn2004,24percentofmotorcycleoperatorsinvolvedinfatalcrasheswereoperatingthevehiclewithoutaproperlicense.(“Improperlylicensed”isdefinedasnotlicensedtooperateamotorcycle,oralicensesuspended,revoked,expired,canceled,ordenied,ornoendorsementtooperateamotorcycle.)Thiscomparesto12percentofpassengervehicledriversinfatalcrashesnothavingavalidlicense.Motorcycleoperatorsinvolvedinfataltrafficcrasheswere1.3timesmorelikelythanpassengervehicledriverstohaveapreviouslicensesuspensionorrevocation(15percentand12percent,respectively).
Previous Driving Records of Drivers Involved in Fatal Traffic Crashes, by Type of Vehicle, 2004
18SeePromisingPracticesinMotorcycleRiderEducationandLicensingatwww.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/MotorcycleRider/pages/contents.html
DWIConvictions
RecordedSuspensions or
Revocations
RecordedCrashes
7.4%
15.2%
0.7%3.1%
27.4%
25.5%
4.3%
17.3%
14.2%15.6%
MotorcyclesPassenger CarsLight TrucksLarge Trucks
Vehicle Type:
12.9%
19.2%SpeedingConvictions
13.9%
3.1%
19.9%
11.1%
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Highlights of Current ProgramNHTSAwillcontinuetoexaminetherelationshipbetweenStates’ridereducationandtrainingpro-gramsandtheirlicensingpractices.Totheextentpossible,NHTSAisencouragingStatelicensingprogramstoworkinconcertwithridereduca-tionandtrainingprogramstoissueanoperatorlicense,asappropriate,uponsuccessfulcompletionofarider-trainingcourse.NHTSAwillcontinuetoworkwithlawenforcementagenciestoenforcelicensinglaws,andwithmotorcyclingorganiza-tionstoincreasethenumberofproperlylicensedmotorcyclists.
Proposed InitiativesIncooperationwithAAMVA,NHTSAwillup-datetheMotorcycle Operator Licensing SystemandIntegrating Motorcycle Rider Education and Licens-ingguidelines.NHTSA,AAMVA,andavarietyofNationalandStateorganizationsareworkingcollectivelytoidentifyandmakethenecessarychangestothesemanuals.Oncecomplete,NHTSAhopesthatStateswilladoptandimplementtherevisedguidelines.
NHTSAisalsoconductingaresearchstudyinMarylandtoincreasemotorcyclelicensure.InMarylandin2001,14percentofregisteredmotor-cycleownersfailedtoobtainpropermotorcyclelicensure.Crashanalysisrevealedthatmotorcycleownerswithoutproperlicensurewereoverrep-resentedinthemotorcyclecrashfatalitiesfortheState.Thisprojectwillevaluatetheuseofmotorcy-clesafetyeducationalmaterialstoincreaseproperlicensureintheState.
Expected Program OutcomesThedesiredoutcomeofNHTSA’seffortsinlicens-ingisforlicensingagenciestofollowcomprehen-sivetestingpracticesthatrequireapplicantstopasswrittenknowledgetestsandskillstests.ThroughtheMarylandpilotproject,NHTSAhopesmotor-cyclelicensureofregisteredmotorcycleownerswillincreaseintheState.Ifsuccessful,theagencyhopesthatotherStateswillimplementsimilarpro-gramstoreducethenumberofunlicensedmotor-cycleridersintheirrespectiveStates.
NHTSAhopesthatbyupdatingtheMotorcycle Operator Licensing SystemandIntegrating Motor-cycle Rider Education and LicensingguidelinesthatStateswilladoptandimplementtheguidelinesinincreasingmotorcyclelicensure.
E. Rider Impairment Alcoholandotherdrugsaremajorriskfactorsinalltypesofmotorvehiclecrashes.Thesefactorsappearmorefrequentlyinmotorcyclecrashesthanincrashesofothervehicletypes,withthemostprominentfactorbeingtheconsumptionofalcohol.19AsofAugust2005,.08BAClegislationbecameeffectiveinall50States,theDistrictofColumbia,andPuertoRico.
Background on IssueIn2004,thepercentageofdriverswithabloodalcoholconcentration(BAC)of.08gramsperdeci-liter(g/dL)orhigherinfatalcrasheswashighestformotorcycleoperators.
Drivers/Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes with a BAC ≥.08 g/dL by Vehicle Type
Vehicle Type Percentage
Passenger Cars 22
Light Trucks 21
Large Trucks 1
Motorcycles 27
Source: FARS 2004 (ARF)
In2004,28percentofallfatallyinjuredmotorcycleoperatorshadBAClevelsof.08orhigher.Anaddi-tional6percenthadloweralcohollevels(BAC.01to.07).Theintoxicationratewashighestforfatallyinjuredoperatorsbetweentheagesof35and39(39%),followedbyages40to44(38%),andages45to49(34%).Forty-onepercentofalloperatorskilledonmotorcycleswith1,001to1,500-ccenginesizeshadalcoholintheirblood(7%withBACof.01to.07,34%withBACof.08orhigher).
19Othersubstancesandcausesofimpairment(e.g.,prescrip-tiondrugs,over-the-counterdrugs,illegalrecreationaldrugs,environmentalfactors,anddrowsiness)largelycon-tinuetobeunknownfactorsinmotorcyclecrashes.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
In2004,4.3percentofmotorcycleoperatorsinfatalcrasheshadatleastonepriorconvictionfordrivingwhileintoxicatedontheirdriverrecords,comparedto3percentofpassengervehicledrivers.
Forty-onepercentofthe1,672motorcycleopera-torswhodiedinsingle-vehiclecrashesin2004hadBAClevelsof.08g/dLorhigher.Sixtypercentofmotorcycleoperatorskilledinsingle-vehiclecrashesonweekendnightshadBAClevelsof.08g/dLorhigher.MotorcycleoperatorskilledintrafficcrashesatnightwerethreetimesmorelikelythanthosekilledduringthedaytohaveBAClevelsof.08g/dLorhigher(42%and13%,respectively).
Theriskindrinkingandthenridingisexacerbatedbyandpossiblycorrelatedwithotherrisk-takingbehaviors,suchasridingwithoutahelmetandotherproperprotectivegear.ThereportedhelmetusagerateformotorcycleoperatorswithBAClev-elsof.08g/dLorhigherkilledintrafficcrasheswas41percent,comparedwith63percentforthosewithnoalcohol.
Intoxication Rates for Motorcycle Operators Killed in Traffic Crashes, by Time of Day, 2004
Twenty-sevenStatesareatorbelowthenationalalcohol-relatedmotorcyclefatalityrateaverageof2.31per100millionVMT.Twenty-threeStates,theDistrictofColumbia,andPuertoRicoareabovethenationalaverage.TheUnitedStates’overallalcohol-relatedfatalityratewas0.51in2004.Thealcohol-relatedmotorcyclefatalityratewas220percentabovetheoverallU.S.alcohol-relatedfatal-ityrate,withruralareasandsouthernStatesshow-ingthehighestfatalityrates.
Total
Daytime
Nighttime
Total
Daytime
Nighttime
Total
Daytime
Nighttime
Weekends
Weekdays
Weekdays and Weekends
All CrashesSingle-VehicleMulti-Vehicle
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65Percentage of Drivers with BAC .08 g/dL or Higher
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Mot
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
Highlights of Current ProgramInordertocombattheimpaired-riderproblem,NHTSAhasongoingprogramsandiscurrentlydevelopingnewstrategiesbasedonknowledgelearnedfromrecentstudies.AreportDrinking, Riding and Prevention – A Focus Group Study(No-vember2002)examinedtheattitudesandbeliefsofmotorcyclists’regardingdrinkingandridingandfoundthat:(1)ridersoftendiscouragepeersfromridingafterdrinking,butaculturallyreinforcedre-spectforriderfreedomandindividualresponsibil-itysetsinterventionboundaries;(2)riderconcernforthesafetyandsecurityofthemotorcycle(i.e.,leavingthemotorcycleandgettinghomeanalter-nativeway)nearlyalwaysovershadowsconcernforindividualsafetyandcontributestoridingevenafterdrinking;and(3)motorcycleimpoundmentandcourt-orderedpaymentforvehiclestorage,alcoholtreatmentprograms,andothercostsareconsideredpersuasivecountermeasuresthatseemtodeterdrinkingandriding.Theresultssuggestedthattheintegrationofsocialnormmodelsintodrinking-and-ridingpreventionprogrammingmaybeapromisingapproach.
People Killed in Alcohol-Related Crashes, by Role
RoleYear
Change % Change2003 2004
Occupants* 12,997 12,636 -361 -2.80%
Drivers 9,445 9,185 -260 -2.80%
Passengers 3,512 3,418 -94 -2.70%
Motorcycle Riders
1,547 1,560 +13 0.80%
Non-Occupants 2,561 2,498 -63 -2.50%
Pedestrians 2,282 2,211 -71 -3.10%
Pedalcyclists 235 249 +14 6.00%
Other** 44 39 -5 -11%
TOTAL 17,105 16,694 -411 -2.40%
* Totals include occupants whose seating position was unknown.
** Includes occupants of motor vehicles not in transport and of non-motor vehicle transport devices.
Othereffortstoreduceimpairedridinghavebeenmultifocused.Theagencyhasandwillcontinuetoworkwithlawenforcementtoincreasethe
useofthemotorcycleDWIdetectioncuesandenforcementofStateimpaireddrivinglawsformotorcyclists.InMarch2005,NHTSArevisedThe Detection of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Motorcyclistsbrochure.20ThisbrochureisbasedonNHTSA-sponsoredresearchconductedinthelate1980sthatdevelopedasetofbehavioralcuestobeusedbylawenforcementpersonneltoassistinthedetectionofmotorcyclistswhoareoperatingtheirvehicleswhileintoxicated.
Also,in2005,impairedmotorcycleridingwasinte-gratedintoNHTSA’sHigh-VisibilityEnforcement(HVE)campaignplanner.
Inaddition,partnershipswithnationalmotor-cyclingorganizationsandmanufacturerswillbestrengthenedtogainthecommitmentofallpar-tiestoworktoreduceimpairedridingthroughavarietyofwaysincluding:advertising,training,andpoliciesgoverningmotorcyclingevents.Proposed InitiativesCurrently,NHTSAisconductingaclosed-coursestudytoexaminetheimpairingeffectsofalcoholonperformance-relatedmotorcycleskillsatdiffer-entBAClevels.
Theagencyissupportingthedevelopment,im-plementation,andevaluationofaninnovative,multifacetedprogramthattestsdifferentstrategiesdesignedtoreducethenumberofalcohol-relatedmotorcyclecrashesthroughacooperativeagree-mentwithInnocorpofWisconsin.Keycompo-nentsofthisprogramareenforcementofexistingimpaired-drivinglaws;providingstorageformo-torcycleswhenoperatorsaretooimpairedtoridehome;joiningwithtavernownersandmotorcycledealers;anddevelopmentofpublicinformationandeducationmaterialstargetingmotorcyclists,dealers,andthegeneralpublic.
NHTSAisalsodevelopingapeer-to-peerdrink-ing-and-ridingpreventioncurriculumtobeusedinridertrainingprogramsandatgroupfunctions
20SeeTheDetectionofDWIMotorcyclistsatwww.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/610DWIMotorcyWeb/images/Motorcyclists.pdf
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�� | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
suchasclubmeetings.ThecurriculumiscurrentlybeingpilotedandevaluatedthroughoutGeorgiainconjunctionwiththeGeorgiaDepartmentofMo-torVehicleSafety,MotorcycleSafetyProgram.
Inaddition,Section2003ofSAFETEA-LUdirectstheSecretaryofTransportationto“conductastudyoneducational,publicinformation,andotheractivitiestargetedatreducingmotorcycleaccidentsandresultingfatalitiesandinjuries,wheretheoperatorofthemotorcycleisimpaired.”SAFETEA-LUfurtherdirectstheSecretarytosubmitareporttoCongressontheresultsofthestudythatincludesdatacollectedandstatisticscompiled,aswellasrecommendationstoreducethenumberofalcohol-relatedmotorcyclecrashesandtheresultingfatalitiesandinjuries.
Aseparateinitiativeisongoingtoassessthefeasibilityofalternativeapproachestodeterminetherelativeriskofalcohol-impairedriders.Theresearchprojectwillprovideinformationregardingavarietyofapproachesthatmaybeusedtodeterminecrashrisksamongriderswhodrink.Drafttechnicalreportsonalternativeapproachesidentifiedarecurrentlyunderreview.
ByAugust2006,NHTSAanticipatesthatimpairedridingwillbeincludedintheHigh-VisibilityEnforcement(HVE)campaignandcampaignplanner.LawenforcementagenciesthroughoutthecountrywillparticipateintheHVEinitiative.Expected Program Outcomes Theagencyrecognizesthatitwilltakemorethanpublicinformationandeducationtosolvetheimpaired-ridingproblem.Bycontinuingtoworkwithlawenforcementorganizationsatthenational,State,andlocallevels,NHTSAhopestodevelopadditionalstrategiestomoreaggressivelyenforceimpaired-ridinglaws.ThefindingsfromNHTSA’sstudytodeterminemotorcycleimpairmentatdifferentBAClevelsshouldprovidevaluableinformationontheBAClevelwhereimpairmentbeginsanditseffectsatincreasedlevelsforridersatdifferentlevels.Incombinationwithon-the-roaddatafromcrashandnon-crash-involved
ridersmorespecificinformationaboutalcoholimpairmentandcrashriskwillbeobtainedforfurtherimpaired-ridingcountermeasuredevelopment.
TheWisconsindemonstrationprogramwillprovideresourcestoreduceimpairedmotorcycleridingbypromotingpositiveridingbehaviorsandusingmotorcycledealers,lawenforcement,andestablishmentsthatservealcoholtohelpmarkettheimportanceofsoberriding.Theresultsofthisdemonstrationprojectwillbeanalyzedandpro-videdtoallStatestouseindevelopingprogramstoaddressimpairedriding.
OneofNHTSA’sgoalforthepeer-to-peerdrink-ing-and-ridingpreventioncurriculumistoin-creaseawarenessofridersregardingdrinkingandriding.Inaddition,theagencyhopesitwillencourageriderstointervenewhentheyobserveothersthathavebeendrinkingandareabouttoride,byprovidingtoolsthatcanbeusedtopreventthemfromriding.
F. Motorist Awareness and Motorcycle Conspicuity
Itiscriticalformotoriststolearntorecognizeandsharetheroadsafelywithmotorcyclists.Alargenumberofmotorcyclecrashesincludetwokeycrashcomponents:poorspeed-spacingjudgmentofotherdriversandpoormotorcycleconspicuity.Motoristsneedtobeawarethattheiractionsaffectthesafetyofmotorcyclists.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
Background on IssueIn2004,therewere1,803two-vehiclefatalcrashesinvolvingamotorcycleandanothervehicle.In39percent(711)ofthesecrashestheothervehiclewasturningleftwhilethemotorcyclewasgoingstraight,passing,orovertakingthevehicle.Bothvehiclesweregoingstraightin465crashes(26%).Becauseofthemotorcycle’ssizeanduniquehan-dlingcharacteristics,otherroadwayusersmaynotunderstandtheactionsthatmotorcycliststaketosafelyinteractintraffic.Highlights of Current ProgramIneducatingmotoristsonlearningtorecognizeandsharetheroadwithmotorcyclists,NHTSA,whileexpandingthenetworkofitsexistinghigh-waysafetypartnerships,continuestoengagekeynationalorganizationstopromotemotorcycleawarenesstotheirmembers,whilealsoencourag-ingtheseorganizationstoincludesafetyawarenessmessagesintheirmaterial,asappropriate.
CongressrequestedthatNHTSAexaminewaystoenhancemotorcycleconspicuity.NHTSA’seffortstoincreasemotorcyclesafetywereconductedintwophasesanddesignedtotestthespeed-spacingandconspicuityhypotheses.Thefirstphasewasatesttrackevaluationinwhichparticipantsinavehiclepressedabuttonatwhattheyperceivedwasthelastmomenttheycouldsafelycrossthepathoftheexperimentalmotorcycleapproachingthem.Theintentionofthisphasewastodeterminewhich,ifany,treatmentsinfluenceddriverstopro-videasafergap.Thesecondphasecontainedtwoparts:anon-roadassessmentofgapacceptanceandaninterview.Thegoalofthisphasewastodetermineifanyofthetreatmentsprovidedasafergapinrealtrafficandifanyofthetreatmentsweremoreconspicuous.TestingwasconductedintheUnitedStatesandCanadatoallowanassessmentoftheimpactofpassengerfleetdaytimerunninglamp(DRL)use.
DRLsonmotorcycleshavebeenfoundtoincreasemotorcyclistconspicuity.Onepossibleexplanationfordriversturninginfrontofoncomingmotor-cyclesinvolvesadecreaseinmotorcyclistnotice-
abilityduetoincreasinguseofDRLsinthepassen-gercarfleet.Theon-roadassessmentwasusedtoexaminetheeffectsofdriverfamiliaritywithmotorvehicleDRLs.
InadditiontoDRLs,othertechnologieshaveemergedwiththeintentofincreasingtheconspi-cuityofmotorcycles.Forexample,modulatingheadlampshavebeenshowntoincreasevisibility.Thestudyimplementedsomeofthesenewtreat-mentsastestconditions.Thefindingsarecurrentlybeingreviewed.
Proposed InitiativesAsrequiredinSAFETEA-LU,NHTSAisdevelop-ingmodellanguageforuseintrafficsafetyeduca-tioncourses,driver’smanuals,andotherdriver’strainingmaterials,emphasizingandinstructingdriversofmotorvehiclesoftheimportanceofsharingtheroadsafelywithmotorcyclists.
Inaddition,NHTSAisworkingtoimplementSAFETEA-LU’snewSection2010grantpro-gramestablishedaStatemotorcyclistsafetygrantprogramtosupportmotorcycleridertrainingandmotoristawarenessprograms.SAFETEA-LUspecifiesthattoqualifyforamotorcyclistsafetygrant,inthefirstyearaStatemustmeetoneofsixcriteria,andfortheremainingthreeyearstheStatemustmeettwoofsixcriteria.Thecriteriaare:(1)motorcycleridertrainingcourse;(2)motorcyclistsawarenessprogram;(3)reductioninfatalitiesandcrashesinvolvingmotorcycles;(4)impaireddrivingprogram;(5)reductionoffatalitiesandaccidentsinvolvingimpairedmotorcyclists;and(6)feescollectedfrommotorcyclistsforthepurposeoffundingtrainingandsafetyprogramsareusedonlyforthosepurposes.Fundscanonlybeusedformotorcyclistsafetytrainingandmotorcyclistawarenessprograms.Fundingincludesaminimumof$100,000peryearforqualifyingStates($6mil-lionforFY06,07,and08;$7millionforFY09).Toincreasemotorcycleconspicuity,NHTSAiscurrentlyconductingmoreanalysesonthedatacollectedtobetterunderstandtheresearchneedsandunderstandthefullinteractionwiththeve-hiclefleet.
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�� | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Expected Program Outcomes TheSAFETEA-LUmotorcyclistsafetygrantprogramwillprovideresourcestoStatestomakeimprovementstotheirmotoristawarenessandridereducationprogramsandincreaseavailabilityoftraining.
ThroughNHTSA’sresearchandtestingefforts,theagencyhopestogaininsightintotheinteractionofmotorcycleDRLtreatmentsandDRLconcentrationinthevehiclefleet.Theseeffortsarealsoexpectedtoprovideunderstandingofreal-worldinteractionsbetweenpassengervehiclesandmotorcycles.
G. BrakingItisimportanttomonitorthemotorcyclecrashexperiencetofacilitateidentificationofpotentialfactorsthatmayhampersafeoperationandridersafety.Motorcycledesigns,includingtheirbrakesystems,havechangedsignificantlyoverthepast20years.Motorcyclebrakesystems,andtheriders’misuse/underuseofthesesystems,arepotentialfactorsinmanycrashes.Twopromisingtech-nologiesareavailableinproductionmotorcycles:antilockbrakesystems(ABS);andcombinedbrak-ingsystems(CBS)thatapplythebrakesonbothwheelswhenonlyonelever/pedalisapplied.Background on Issue Insingle-vehiclemotorcyclecrashes,about13percentoffatalitieshavebeenrelatedtoabrakingmaneuverusedpriortothecrash.However,avail-abledatadoesnotindicateifmotorcyclebrakingperformancewasacontributingfactorinthesecrashes.Aprimaryinterestwillcenterondeter-miningwhetherpresentFederalrequirementsforeffectivebrakingactionneedtoberevisedtomorecloselyreflectnewtechnologyalreadyavailableinthemarketplace.Amajorissuewillinvolveevalu-ationofhowchangesinmotorcycleoperationanddesignfeaturesaffectridersafetyandperformance.Highlights of Current ProgramNHTSAiscurrentlyinvestigatingthebenefitsofnewerbrakingtechnologiesformotorcycles.Theobjectiveofthisprogramistoassesstheeffective-
nessofanti-lockbrakingsystems(ABS)andcom-binedbrakesystems(CBS)onmotorcyclesundervariousbrakingmaneuversandloadingconditions,andtodeterminethebenefitsthatthesesystemsmayoffer.
ProgramresultsindicatethatanoverallreductioninstoppingdistancecanbeachievedwiththeuseofABS.ResultsalsoindicateanoverallreductioninstoppingdistancewithCBSwhenonlythefootpedalisapplied.AnotherbyproductofCBSisthatmoreconsistentstopscanbeachievedwhenonlytherearbrakeisapplied.Allresultswerecomparedwith“baseline”performanceofstandardhydraulicbrakes(i.e.,noABSorCBS).Proposed InitiativesFuturebraketestingmayincludeperformingad-ditionaltestsofmotorcycles(i.e.,differentbrands/models)withABSand/orCBS.Thereisalsointer-estinperformingabehavioralstudywithmotor-cyclistsonmotorcyclesequippedwithstandardbrakesystems(baseline),andABS/CBS-equippedmotorcycles.
Expected Program OutcomesThisinitiativewilldeterminehowcertainbraketechnologiesmayassistinreducingthetotalnumberofannualmotorcycleinjuriesandfatali-ties,howridersinteractwiththedifferentbrakingtechnologies,anddeterminingotherbenefitsandeffectsofABS/CBS.
H. Roadway InfrastructureMotorcycleshavedifferentoperatingcharacter-isticsthanpassengercarsandtrucks.Motorcy-clistsarejustifiablyconcernedabouttheeffectsofroadwayinfrastructuresmoothnessonmotorcyclehandlingandoperationalsafety. Background on the IssueRun-off-road(ROR)crashesposeamajordangertomotorcyclists.RORcrashesinvolvevehiclesthatleavethetravellaneandencroachontotheshoul-derandbeyondandhitoneormoreobjects,suchasbridgewalls,poles,embankments,guardrails,
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | �7
parkedvehicles,andtrees.Motorcyclesaremorelikelythanothervehiclestobeinvolvedinafatalcollisionwithafixedobject.In2004,26percentofthemotorcyclesinvolvedinfatalcrashescollidedwithfixedobjects,comparedto18percentforpassengercars,12percentforlighttrucks,and4percentforlargetrucks.
Reducingthelikelihoodthatavehiclewillleavetheroadwaythroughroadwaydesign(e.g.,flat-teningcurvesorinstallingshoulderrumblestrips)preventsdeathsandinjuriesresultingfromRORcrashes.Whenanerrantmotorcycledoesen-croachontheroadside,fatalitiesandinjuriescanbereducedbyminimizingthelikelihoodofthevehiclecrashingintoanobject(e.g.,throughobjectremoval)oroverturning(e.g.,sideslopeflatten-ing)orcanreducetheseverityofthecrash(e.g.,byinstallingbreakawaydevices).
Highlights on the Current Program FHWA,throughtheFederalaidandFederallandhighwayprograms,providesfinancialandtech-nicalresourcestoState,local,andotherFederal
agenciesfortheimprovementandpreservationofAmerica’shighwaysystem.Thedesign,construc-tion,operation,andpreservationoftheroadwayrelatingtomotorcyclesafetyareofprimeconcerntoFHWA.
Ontheengineeringfront,FHWAconductsre-searchandsupportsprivatesectorresearchintoavarietyofinnovativedesignfeaturesthatcreatesaferroads.Roadsafetydesignfeaturesthathelptoreduceroaddeparturesandminimizetheseverityofroadwaycrashesinclude:rumblestrips;retrore-flectivesignsandforgivingroadsidehardware(i.e.,guardrailsandbreakawaypoles);skidresistancepavements;andall-weatherpavementmarkings.Proposed InitiativesNHTSAwillcontinuetosupportFHWA’seffortsinanalyzingthecurrentandfutureroadwayissuesinidentifyingspecificactionstoimprovesafety.Inaddition,receivinginputonroadwayinfra-structurerelatedsafetyissuesfromthemotorcyclecommunityiscrucialforaneffectiveprogramtobeplannedbybothNHTSAandFHWA.FHWA
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�8 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
hasalreadyinitiatedactionstoaddressmotorcyclesafetyneedsrelatingtotheroadwayinfrastructure.FHWA,workinginpartnershipwiththeAMA,hastakenstepstoimproveroadwaysurfacesthroughguidanceregardinguseofnon-slipperyroadseal-ants,repairsubstances,androadmarkingdecals.Thishasbeencarriedoutincombinationwitheducationalcampaigns.Inaddition,theFHWA,incooperationwithNHTSA,willcontinuetoworkwiththeTranspor-tationResearchBoard(TRB)andothersontheimplementationoftheAmericanAssociationofStateHighwayandTransportationOfficial’sStrate-gicHighwaySafetyPlan(SHSP)(http://safetyplan.tamu.edu).ThepurposeofSHSPistoimprovesafetyontheNation’shighwaysthroughacom-prehensiveapproach(enforcement,engineering,education,andemergencymedicalservices)withinputandparticipationfrommanyorganizationsandindividuals.Theguidewillcontainengineer-ing,aswellaseducational,enforcement,andemergencymedicalservicestoimprovemotorcyclesafety.Asapartofthiseffort,FHWAwillcoordi-natewithNHTSAontheappropriateoutreachanddistributionactivitiesfortheGuide.
Lastly,Section1914ofSAFETEA-LUauthorizedthecreationofaMotorcyclistAdvisoryCounciltocoordinatewithandadvisetheFHWAadministra-toroninfrastructureissuesofconcerntomotor-cyclists.FHWApublishedanoticeofintenttoes-tablishthecouncilthatwasincludedintheFederalRegisteronDecember23,2005(70FR76352).Thenoticesoughtpubliccommentsontheissuesthecouncilshoulddiscussandtheorganizationsandparticipantstobeconsideredforrepresentationtothecouncil.
Expected Program OutcomesOneexpectedoutcomeofimprovingroadwayin-frastructureistoreducethenumberofmotorcycleRORfatalitycrashes.NHTSAandFHWAplantodothisbycontinuingtodevelopandimplementprogramsandinfrastructuretokeepvehiclesfromencroachingontheroadside,minimizethelikeli-hoodofcrashingifamotorcyclisttravelsofftheshoulder,andreducetheseverityofthecrash.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | �9
V. International EffortsNHTSArecognizestheincreasingdemandandneedforinvolvementintheinternationalarenaoftrafficandvehiclesafety.Thereareopportunitiestolearnfromothercountries,aswellassharestrate-giesandgoodpracticesforincreasingmotorcyclesafety.Section2003ofSAFETEA-LUauthorizestheNHTSAadministratorto“participateandco-operateininternationalactivitiestoenhancehigh-waysafety.”Thisincreasedneedforinternationalcooperationonmotorcyclesafetyissues,aswellasotherhighwaysafetymatters,isduetochang-ingnationalandinternationaltrendsinautomo-tivesafetyandtrade.Thechangingtrendsrequireinternationalcooperationtolearnaboutbettersafetypracticesandtoleveragelimitedresources.Itisalsoduetoincreasingstatutoryandinternationaltreatyobligations.Further,researchandstandardsettingactivitiesoutsidetheUnitedStates,eventhoseoccurringwithouttheinvolvementorinflu-enceoftheU.S.Government,mayaffectthedesignandsafetyofvehicles,includingmotorcycles,soldintheUnitedStates.
Currently,NHTSArepresentstheUnitedStatesintheUnitedNationsEconomicCommissionforEurope(UNECE)WorkingPartyonRoadTraf-ficSafety(calledWP.1).WP.1isawell-establishedUnitedNationsbodywithintheUNECETrans-portDivision,focusingonreducingthenumberandgravityofroadtrafficcrashes.UNECEanditsWorkingParties,includingWP.1,serveasfocalpointsfortheexchangeofinformationandde-velopmentofpolicyrecommendationsregardinggoodpracticesinthevehicle,behavioral,andin-frastructureareasoftrafficinjuryprevention.ThisisimportantgivenNHTSA’slimitedresourcesforinternationalactivities.NHTSAcurrentlychairsaWP.1workinggrouptoidentifyinternationalpracticesinmotorcycleandmopedsafety.
NHTSAisalsoactivelyworkingwiththeUNECEWorldForumforHarmonizationofVehicleRegu-lations(calledWP.29)todevelopaharmonized
GlobalTechnicalRegulation(GTR)formotorcyclebrakes.TheworkwasinitiatedinMarch2002bytheExecutiveCommittee(calledAC.3)responsibleforglobalharmonizationactivityunderthisforum,duringthe126thsessionofWP.29.Thedevelop-mentofthenewglobalregulationisintendedtoreducetheinjuriesandfatalitiesassociatedwithmotorcycleaccidentsbothintheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.ThebodyunderWP.29respon-sibleforthetechnicalwork,calledtheWorkingPartyonBrakesandRunningGear(GRRF)isinthefinalstagesofitsworkandisexpectedtorec-ommendestablishmentofthenewGTRtoWP.29bytheendof2006.
NHTSAparticipatesintheUnitedNationsRoadSafetyCollaboration,coordinatedbytheWorldHealthOrganizationperGeneralAssemblyReso-lutionA/58/289,Improvingglobalsafety,”adoptedinApril2004.Thiscollaborationconsistsofover70internationalandnationalagenciesinroadsafety,focusingonsuccessfulinterventionsforpoweredtwo-wheeledvehicles,speeding,impaireddriving,andoccupantprotectionandisdevelopingaseriesoftoolkitsonimplementationstrategies.NHTSAwillcontinuetoparticipatewiththecollaborationandreviewtoolkitsasappropriate.
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�0 | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
VI. Conclusion
Theincreasingtrendinmotorcyclefatalitiesandinjuriescallsfornewstrategiesaswellastheexpansionofexistingprograms.Therehavebeenperiodsofmajorimprovementinmotorcyclesafety,especiallysincetheimplementationofFederallawsandprogramsthatwerefirstestablishedover35yearsago.Butcontinuedescalatingfatalityandinjurytrendssignalthatmoreneedstobedoneandareasoffocusmustbeexpanded.
NHTSA’sMotorcycleSafetyProgrampromotestheDepartmentofTransportation’shighestpriority–safetransportation.Itincludesbriefsynopsesofthemanyactivitiestheagencywillpursueinreduc-ingthenumberofmotorcyclecrashes,fatalities,
andinjuries.NHTSA’smotorcyclesafetyprogramisabalancedandcomprehensiveapproachto:(1)preventcrashesbeforetheyoccur;(2)mitigateandreducecrash-relatedinjuries;and(3)providerapidandappropriateemergencyresponse.
TheproblemofmotorcyclefatalitiesandinjuriesisnotNHTSA’salonetosolve.ToreducetheneedlessinjuriesanddeathsonourNation’sroadways,NHTSAurgesStates,localjurisdictions,nationalorganizations,ridergroups,manufacturers,insurersandallindividuals–ridersanddrivers–totakeresponsibilityforthisgrowingproblembydoingeverythingintheirpowertoensureasafeandenjoyablerideforallmotorcyclists,everytrip,everytime.
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2006 Motorcycle Safety Program Plan | ��
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DOT HS 810 615June 2006