TRB Pubsindex
Text Size:
x

« Prev Next »

Return to Results | New Search

Bookmark and Share

Title:

Road Design and Human Factors Associated to Motorcycle Accidents--A Contribution to Safer Roads

Accession Number:

01004381

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Transportation Research Board Business Office

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Abstract:

Recent accident data indicate that death and injuries attributable to motorcycle crashes are becoming an increasing problem in public health. In the United States motorcycle crashes have been increasing since 1997, while injuries have been increasing since 1998. European countries like Germany, France and the United Kingdom show similar trends. The effects of a crash involving a motorcycle can often be devastating. While 20% of passenger vehicle crashes result in injury or death, 80% of motorcycle crashes result in injury or death. Also, the motorcycle community is now experiencing increasing growth. Besides this, it is important to note that most fatalities in single motorcycle crashes relate to problems negotiating a curve prior to a crash. The objectives of this study were to characterize and evaluate motorcycle rider habits in route choice and risk taking relevant for highway safety design purposes. Furthermore, road features contributing to increased motorcycle accidents were described and evaluated. A survey of motorcycle riders revealed that experiencing risk, as it is assumed in some "Sensation Seeking" theories, was, by the majority, not their intent when using a motorcycle. A detailed accident analysis covering the state Brandenburg, Germany, outlined that motorcycle accidents are concentrated on road sections with specific design features which are described in detail within the body of the paper. A two-lane rural highway (State Route L 291 Eberswalde - Liepe), a typical motorcycle route nearby Berlin, was the subject of a detailed quantitative Safety Analysis including the geometric, dynamic and psychological aspects of driving.

Monograph Accession #:

01004374

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Heger, Ralf
Zehn, Annette

Pagination:

19p

Publication Date:

2005

Conference:

3rd International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design

Location: Chicago Illinois, United States
Date: 2005-6-29 to 2005-7-1
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board; American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); Federal Highway Administration; American Society of Civil Engineers; Association Mondiale de la Route; International Road Federation; Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE); National Association of County Engineers; Transportation Association of Canada (TAC); Chicago Department of Transportation; Illinois Department of Transportation; Illinois State Toll Highway Authority

Media Type:

CD-ROM

Features:

Figures (9) ; References (35)

Geographic Terms:

Brandenburg (Germany)

Subject Areas:

Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Sep 27 2005 9:36AM