In order to investigate the current dangers to motorcyclists on America's roads, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation recently contributed over $2 million for a study that will be conducted by researchers at Oklahoma State University. Since substantive research has not been done on this topic since the Hurt and MAIDS studies, which were published decades ago, motorcycle advocates believe that it's time to assess the current dangers that bikers face.
"We need new field research that might help us further refine our motorcycle safety initiatives," Tim Buche, the President of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, told the Los Angeles Times. "There's a long list of things that have changed over the years. There's a long list of things that haven't."
In order to find out exactly what's changed for bikers since the last studies were conducted, independent investigators will look at accident data and code each crash based on several variables - including witness interviews, medical records, accident reconstruction and vehicle inspections. By looking at this information, researchers will be able to identify what caused these motorcycle accidents - whether the causes are environmental, vehicle or human factors.
The Hurt and MAIDS Studies
The Hurt Report, which was named after author Professor Harry Hurt, was published in 1981 and looked at data from motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles. Investigators studied accidents that occurred between 1976 and 1977 by conducting field investigations and reviewing police reports. After looking at over 900 crashes, researchers found that the majority of accidents were caused because a car crashed into a motorcycle after failing to see the approaching biker. The report also found that the use of motorcycle helmets could significantly decrease the risk death or brain injury after an accident.
Similarly, the MAIDS (Motorcycle Accidents In Depth) study - which was conducted in five European countries - found that the majority of motorcycle accidents took place at the intersection and generally involved a passenger car in some way.
Motorcycle Safety
In order to stay safe, bikers should:
- make sure that they are prepared for inclement weather
- always use safety gear, such as helmets and gloves
- take motorcycle safety classes that offer tips on how to best use their bikes
- let someone know where they will be riding and when they plan to reach their destination
- avoid riding with a passenger until they have mastered using the motorcycle alone
