National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Motorcycle Safety 5-Year Plan National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Motorcycle Safety 5-Year Plan Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Types of Crashes ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Motorcyclist Risk Exposure ............................................................................................................... 6 Demographics: Rider Age ................................................................................................................ 8 Crash Protection: Helmets .............................................................................................................. 8 Funding for State Motorcycle Safety Programs ................................................................... 10 Foundational Programming ........................................................................................................... 11 Current Challenges and Opportunities .......................................................................................... 12 DATA .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Challenges ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Identifying Rider Risk Exposure ............................................................................................... 12 Identifying Motorist Interactions With Motorcyclists ..................................................... 13 Intelligent Transportation Systems and Motorcycle Safety .......................................... 13 Non-Fatal Data Collection and Use ........................................................................................... 14 Strategies................................................................................................................................................... 15 Roadway Information Database ................................................................................................ 15 Informal Databases ......................................................................................................................... 17 Observational Surveys ................................................................................................................... 17 Conspicuity and Personal Protective Equipment .............................................................. 18 Motorcycle Safety Program Training ...................................................................................... 18 Exposure Data Research ............................................................................................................... 19 Rider Behavior and Crash Avoidance ..................................................................................... 19 Crash Causation Study ................................................................................................................... 20 STATE SUPPORT .................................................................................................................................... 21 Challenges ................................................................................................................................................. 21 Educational Material Development ......................................................................................... 21 Funding Parameters ....................................................................................................................... 21 Updating Program Guidelines .................................................................................................... 21 Messaging ............................................................................................................................................ 22 i Strategies................................................................................................................................................... 22 Centralized Product Development ........................................................................................... 22 Financing Strategies ....................................................................................................................... 23 Data-Driven Messaging ................................................................................................................. 23 Increasing Communication With and Among Program Planners ............................... 24 State Assessments ........................................................................................................................... 25 Florida Helmet Demonstration Project ........................................................................... 25 Helmet Repeal Fiscal Analysis Methodology ....................................................................... 26 Exploring Methodology for Identifying Under-Insured Health Care Burden for Each State .............................................................................................................................. 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT ........................................................................................................................... 27 Challenges ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Legislative Barriers to Enforcement of Motorcycle Safety Laws ................................ 27 Eternal Permit ................................................................................................................................... 28 Novelty Helmets ............................................................................................................................... 29 Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints .................................................................................................... 29 Motorcycle Classifications ........................................................................................................... 30 Age Requirements ........................................................................................................................... 30 Engine Displacement Laws .......................................................................................................... 31 Insurance Requirements .............................................................................................................. 31 Challenges to Effective Enforcement of State Motorcycle Helmet Laws ................. 31 Strategies................................................................................................................................................... 32 Training, Training, and More Training ................................................................................... 32 Effective Strategies for Motorcycle Stops .............................................................................. 32 Strategies for the Enforcement of Impaired Riding Laws .............................................. 32 Tools for Identifying Novelty Helmets.................................................................................... 32 FEDERAL PROGRAMS ......................................................................................................................... 33 Challenges ................................................................................................................................................. 33 Three-Wheeled Vehicles ............................................................................................................... 33 Novelty Helmets ............................................................................................................................... 33 ii Strategies................................................................................................................................................... 33 Outreach Regarding Three-Wheeled Vehicles .................................................................... 33 Education on Unsafe Helmets ..................................................................................................... 34 Compliance Enforcement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards ..................... 34 Innovation in Helmet Design ...................................................................................................... 34 RESEARCH PRIORITIES ..................................................................................................................... 35 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................ 36 iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This document is intended to serve as a plan for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration activities to address the safety of motorcyclists. Motorcycle safety is a complex and far-reaching topic, and to be successful NHTSA must work in conjunction with its partners and utilize data-driven approaches to reduce the risk to motorcyclists and all road users. The plan is broken down into