Feds to Study Causes of Motorcycle Crashes

The Federal Highway Administration has announced plans to conduct a major new study to better understand and help prevent motorcycle accidents. Researchers from the FHWA will partner with the Oklahoma State University's Transportation Center to study data from hundreds of motorcycle crashes to determine key factors that may lead to a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries incurred from motorcycle crashes in the future. Some of these factors include road configurations, environmental conditions, and rider experience. The goal is to have a better understanding of what causes crashes so improvements to roadway safety can be made.

From 1997 to 2008, motorcycle fatalities increased by 150% with approximately 5,300 motorcycle rider deaths and 96,000 injuries occuring in 2008, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Despite improved highway safety and reduced fatalities from other types of motor vehicle collisions over the years, motorcycle riders remain one of the highest-risk groups on America's roadways.

The last full-scale motorcycle causation study was conducted in 1981.