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With funds from the National Highway Traffic Association, researcher Harry Hurt of the University of
Southern California compiled the following data, enumerating the top 10 causes of motorcycle accidents. Additionally, Hurt
and his staff analyzed 3,600 motorcycle traffic accident reports in the same geographic area. You can get a copy of the complete
document at:
This document is available through:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22161
(703) 487-4600
Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures
Throughout
the accident and exposure data there are special observations which relate to accident and injury causation and characteristics
of the motorcycle accidents studied. These findings are summarized as follows:
- Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another
vehicle, which was most often a passenger automobile.
- Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents
involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.
- Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most
of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat.
- In single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating
factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slide out and fall due to over braking or running
wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.
- Roadway defects (pavement ridges, potholes, etc.) were the accident cause in 2% of
the accidents; animal involvement was 1% of the accidents.
- In multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle
right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.
- The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating
cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle
before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.
- Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is a rare accident
cause. The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn
in front of the oncoming motorcycle.
- Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other
vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.
- Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents.
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