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 curve 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.
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