In case you needed more reasons to gear up, check out season 2018 of our Geared Up, Torn Up videos.
TMSC Meeting Minutes | September 13, 2018
The Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition met on September 13 to discuss a number of items. Highlights include:
- Opening Remarks and New Member Introduction
- TxDOT Update
- 2019 Motorcycle Safety Forum Discussion
- Moving Forward with Motorcycle Safety: Training Initiative
- DPS Motorcycle Program Updates and Discussion
- Open Discussion & Adjourn
The meeting minutes are now available to download.
The TMSC serves as a public forum for addressing strategies to improve motorcycle safety; discusses effective programs, regulations, and other opportunities to improve motorcycle safety; reviews, proposes, and makes recommendations concerning motorcycle-related legislation; and serves to promote rider safety and inform the public about being aware of motorcycles and sharing the road safely.
Find minutes from other meetings here.
TTI Researchers Conduct Eight-Year Analysis of Texas Motorcycle Crashes
Eva Shipp, Ph.D., and Amber Trueblood, Ph.D., of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute led an in-depth analysis of motorcycle crashes from 2010-2017 for a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) sponsored study. The purpose of the project was to understand the complex nature of motorcycle crashes in Texas through the development of a motorcycle crash database and in-depth analysis. This project updates and builds on a prior analysis completed in 2016. This project added the development of a curve tool to better identify curve-related crashes, as well as an analysis focused on scooters and mopeds. Major project findings include:
- On average there are 9,601 riders affected by a crash annually with an average of 479 fatalities and 1,988 suspected serious injuries annually.
- Motorcycle crashes are more severe than other types of crashes
- 27% of motorcycle crashes were fatal or suspected serious injury compared to 3% of non-motorcycle crashes.
- Impairment is associated with motorcycle crash severity
- 44% of fatal motorcycle crashes involved an impaired rider
- 39% of DUI motorcycle operators with a fatal or serious suspected injury crash occurred on a crash compared to 24% of non-DUI motorcycle operators with a fatal or suspected serious injury crash
- Speeding is associated with motorcycle crash severity
- 30% of fatal motorcycle crashes involved speeding as a contributing factor
- Rural motorcycle crashes are more severe and are more likely to involve an animal or curve compared to urban motorcycle crashes
- 35% of rural motorcycle crashes were fatal or suspected serious injury compared to 22% of urban motorcycle crashes
- 37% of rural fatal or suspected serious crashes involved an animal compared to 17% of urban fatal or suspected serious crashes
- 56% of rural fatal or suspected serious crashes involved a curve compared to 44% of urban fatal or suspected serious crashes
- Riders who crash on curves die 8 times as often as non-motorcyclists
- 8% of riders who crashed on a curved died compared to 1% of non-motorcyclists
- There were 2,531 operators and passengers of mopeds or scooters involved in crashes from 2010-2017
- 52% of moped or scooter riders killed were not wearing a helmet
- 42% of moped or scooter riders did not use a helmet compared to 36% of motorcyclists
- 78% of fatal and suspected serious moped or scooter injuries occurred in urban areas
Download a PDF of the full report.
Download the fact sheets:
TMSC Meeting Sept. 13 | Agenda Announced
Join us for the Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition (TMSC) meeting, September 13, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held in College Station, Texas, at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute in the Gibb Gilchrist Building, room 102. Both members and non-members are invited to attend the meeting.
The agenda will be as follows:
10:00 – 10:15 AM | Opening Remarks & New Member Introduction | Cody Stewart, TTI
10:15 – 10:35 AM | TxDOT Update | Lisa Johnson, TxDOT
10:35 – 10:55 AM | 2019 Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum Discussion | Cody Stewart, TTI
10:55 – 11:05 AM | Break
11:05 – 12:00 AM | Moving Forward with Motorcycle Safety: TMSC Training Initiative
12:00 – 1:15 PM | Lunch and Networking
1:15 – 1:40 PM | Group Activity Report Out
1:40 – 2:30 PM | DPS Motorcycle Program Updates & Discussion | John Young, DPS
2:30 – 3:00 PM | Open Discussion and Adjourn
Tips for Motorcyclists | Road Speed Cornering
Contrary to popular belief, most motorcycle fatalities do not occur in a collision with another vehicle at an intersection. A higher percentage involves motorcycles running off the roadway in a curve then striking a fixed object. If you are uncomfortable during road speed turns, increase your skill through training and practice. Classes on cornering are available in Texas and the practice is fun.
If you find yourself coasting through corners with the power off, you have entered the turn too fast for your comfort level. Enter the next turn slower and add throttle as gently and early as possible through the turn.
Your vision is the key to your survival in cornering. If you are approaching a blind curve due to a sight restriction of any kind, slow down! You do not know what’s lurking just around the bend.
The proper use of your vision through a turn is a skill! Turn your head before the corner starts and look far through the turn, keeping your head and eyes up. This will help you relax on the controls and see any issues far in advance.
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