Feds to Conduct an Intensive Study on Motorcycle Deaths

Beth Janicek

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The Federal Highway Administration and Oklahoma State University will conduct an intensive study into the cause of the growing number of motorcycle crashes and deaths on America’s roads. The study will be the first of its kind in nearly 30 years, and was required by a 2005 federal law, the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act.”

Researchers will evaluate data to help identify common factors for motorcycle crashes, including road configurations, environmental conditions, and rider experience. The main focus of the study is on countermeasures that could reduce motorcycle crashes or lessen their harm.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a pilot study in order to develop the protocols for the full-scale causation research. In July, the NHTSA said that it was considering requiring new safety features on motorcycles, such as anti-lock brakes. A study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that the rate of fatal crashes was 28 percent lower for motorcycles equipped with optional anti-lock brakes.

According to the Transportation Department’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, between 1997 and 2008, motorcycle fatalities jumped from 2,116 to 5,290, which is a 150 percent increase. Hopefully, this new study on motorcycle deaths will identify which factors most influence motorcycle accidents, and figure out what can be done to prevent them.