Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/TX-12/0-6712-1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY February 2013 PLAN FOR TEXAS: TECHNICAL REPORT Published: June 2013 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Patricia Turner, Laura Higgins, and Srinivas Geedipally Report 0-6712-1 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas A&M Transportation Institute College Station, Texas 77843-3135 11. Contract or Grant No. Project 0-6712 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation Technical Report: Research and Technology Implementation Office August 2011–February 2013 th 125 E. 11 Street 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Austin, Texas 78701-2483 15. Supplementary Notes Project performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project Title: Evaluation of the Measures and the Development of a Plan to Reduce the Number and Mitigate the Severity of Crashes Involving Motorcyclists on Texas Highways URL: http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6712-1.pdf 16. Abstract The objective of this research project was to develop a statewide plan to reduce motorcycle crashes and injuries in the state of Texas. The project included a review of published literature on current and proposed countermeasures for reducing the incidence and/or severity of motorcycle-involved crashes and related injuries, a review of existing and emerging Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) and other advanced technologies for motorcycles and other vehicles, an analysis of Texas motorcycle crash and injury data, and a statewide survey of Texas motorcycle riders that explored the demographics, riding histories, training and licensing status, use of protective gear, crash involvement, and attitudes toward various motorcycle safety countermeasures. These data collection activities culminated in a list of potential motorcycle crash and injury countermeasures; these countermeasures were then evaluated and prioritized in a workshop attended by motorcycle safety experts and advocates. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Motorcycle, Helmet, Safety, Countermeasures, No restrictions. This document is available to the Crash Data, Rider Survey public through NTIS: National Technical Information Service Alexandria, Virginia http://www.ntis.gov 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 136 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PLAN FOR TEXAS: TECHNICAL REPORT by Patricia Turner Research Scientist Texas A&M Transportation Institute Laura Higgins Associate Research Scientist Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Srinivas Geedipally Assistant Research Engineer Texas A&M Transportation Institute Report 0-6712-1 Project 0-6712 Project Title: Evaluation of the Measures and the Development of a Plan to Reduce the Number and Mitigate the Severity of Crashes Involving Motorcyclists on Texas Highways Performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration February 2013 Published: June 2013 TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE College Station, Texas 77843-3135 DISCLAIMER This research was performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the FHWA or TxDOT. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. This report is not intended for construction, bidding, or permit purposes. The researcher in charge of the project was Patricia Turner. The United States Government and the State of Texas do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was conducted in cooperation with TxDOT and FHWA. The authors thank Project Directors Frank Phillips and Wade O’Dell and Project Monitoring Committee members Debra Vermillion, James Bailey, Josh Verastique, Lloyd Wolf, Maurice Maness, Michael Jedlicka, Nicholas Nemec, Shirley Ashbrook, Victor Vargas, and Will Bozeman for their advice and assistance throughout the project. Thanks also go to the countermeasure workshop participants for their assistance: Jude Schexnyder, Quinn Brackett, Dan Middleton, Keith Rovell, Pat Rawlings, Chantal Locke, Jay Kimbrough, Jeffrey del Castillo, Roy Wright, Kenneth Smith, Lee Ann Bell, Dave Lund, Kenneth Copeland, Jeff Kaufman, Michael Kellett, Jeff Milburn, John Young, Nina Saint, Romona Cook, David Metcalf, and Terri Miller. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ ix Chapter 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2. Literature Review ..................................................................................................... 3 Crash Causation .......................................................................................................................... 3 Increasing Exposure to Crash and Injury Risk ........................................................................... 5 Crash Factors .............................................................................................................................. 6 Training/Licensing ...................................................................................................................... 6 Lack of Attention and Awareness ............................................................................................. 10 Alcohol and Other Impairments................................................................................................ 12 Speed ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Conspicuity ............................................................................................................................... 17 Roadway Factors/Defects ......................................................................................................... 20 Research in Progress to Improve Motorcycle Safety ................................................................ 25 Chapter 3. Synthesis of ITS Technologies ............................................................................... 27 Technologies to Prevent Run Off Road Crashes ...................................................................... 27 Braking Systems ....................................................................................................................... 28 Collision Warning and Avoidance Systems ............................................................................. 29 Driver Assistance and Monitoring ............................................................................................ 29 Crash Injury Mitigation............................................................................................................. 30 Chapter 4. Motorcycle Crash Data Analysis ........................................................................... 35 Data Description ....................................................................................................................... 35 Exploratory Analysis ................................................................................................................ 35 Regression Analysis .................................................................................................................. 40 Background ............................................................................................................................... 40 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 42 Data Summary .......................................................................................................................... 43 Modeling Results ...................................................................................................................... 44 Predicted Probabilities .............................................................................................................. 46 Chapter 5. Statewide Rider Survey .......................................................................................... 55 Survey Development ................................................................................................................. 55 Survey Circulation and Recruitment ......................................................................................... 55 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 55 Opinions on Motorcycle Safety, Countermeasures, ITS .........................................................