Motorcycle Crashes: Recent Changes in Michigan

1. Motorcycle Crashes: Recent Changes in Michigan Lidia P. Kostyniuk, Ph.D., P.E. Michigan Traffic Safety Summit 2007

2. Background – Changes in the US motorcycle crash picture • Motorcycle registrations + 51% (1997-2004) • Injuries in motorcycle crashes +64% (1997-2005) • Deaths in motorcycle crashes +115% (1997-2005) • Motorcycle fatalities as % of all vehicle-crash fatalities • 5% in 1997 • 10% in 2005 • Motorcyclists age 40+ as % of all motorcyclists killed • 24% in 1995 • 47% in 2005

3. Examine recent changes in motorcycle crash experience in Michigan – baby boomer effects • Registrations and motorcycle endorsements • Crashes and crash rates • Deaths and injuries • Hazardous actions • Drinking • Helmet use • Summary Data – 1997-2005 Michigan crash data files, Michigan vehicle registration and licensing records

4. Motorcycle registrations and license endorsements

5. Motorcycle endorsements by age

6. Motorcycle crashes 1997-2005

7. Crashes by motorcyclist age

8. Distribution of crash severity, 2005 N =3,504 N = 350,838

9. Persons injured in motorcycle crashes

10. Motorcyclists injured in crash by age

11. Persons killed in motorcycle crashes

12. Motorcyclist fatalities by age

13. Motorcycle crash rates

14. Crashes/1000 licensed motorcyclists by age

15. Proportion of crash-involved motorcyclists with motorcycle endorsement in 2005

16. Single and multi-vehicle crashes • About half motorcycle crashes are single vehicle crashes • Little difference by month, day of week, weather, road type, road condition • More single vehicle crashes at night • Slightly more single vehicle crashes involve drinking driver • Proportions of drivers over age 45+ involved in single and in multi-vehicle crashes are almost the same.

17. Hazardous actions, 2005 None Fail to Yield Clear Distance Reckless/ Careless Speed

18. Motorcycle hazardous actionsSingle vehicle crashes by motorcyclist age None Reckless/ Careless Speed Clear Distance Fail to Yield

19. Motorcycle hazardous actions2005 Multi vehicle crashes by motorcyclist age None Fail to Yield Speed Clear Distance Reckless/ Careless

20. Citations for hazardous actionin motorcycle crash, 2005

21. Had Been Drinking (HBD) motorcycle crashes • Proportion of all motorcycle crashes • 1997 – 10% • 2005 – 7% • Proportion of all motorcycle fatalities • 1997 – 47% • 2005 – 29% • Proportion of all motorcycle injuries • 1997 – 14% • 2005 – 7%

22. Number of HBD motorcycle crashes

23. HBD crashes by motorcyclist age

24. Percent of age group’s motorcycle crashes that involved drinking

25. Helmet use • Helmet use rate • 94% in 1997 • 98% in 2005 • 21% of fatalities not helmeted in 2005 • Severity in crashes • with helmet 22-25% killed or severely injured • without helmet 27-52% killed or severely injured

26. Summary - Michigan • Motorcycles and motorcyclists, 1997-2005 • +73% registrations • +13% in motorcycle endorsements • Crashes, 1997-2005 • +38% increase in crashes • +91% increase in fatalities • +36% increase in injuries • 4%  11% of all vehicle-crash fatalities • Older (age 45+) motorcyclists • Licenses - 44% in 1997  64% in 2005 • Deaths - 14% in 2001  41% in 2005 • Lower crash rate • More likely to have mc endorsement • Fewer hazardous actions • Less likely to speed, less likely to drive recklessly • Fewer citations • Less likely to be in HBD crash • Helmet use is high – lower severity in crashes with helmet

27. Questions • Who is the older motorcyclist? • Just younger motorcyclists getting older? • Returning to motorcycling? • New to motorcycling? • What are the skill levels of older motorcyclists? • How does ability to handle motorcycle change with age? • How does risk of injury and death, given a crash, change with age? • Data needs • Better estimates of number of motorcyclists (including unlicensed) • Better estimates of exposure – motorcycle VMT • Use of different types and sizes of motorcycles

28. Thank You