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Abstract
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his report reiterates the importance of motor vehicle accidents as a significant cause of deaths of U.S. service members. On average, during each year of the 12-year surveillance period, 80 service members died from motorcycle accidents and 255 died from other motor vehicle accidents (active and reserve component members combined). Of note, however, in 2010, there were fewer motorcycle-related deaths (n=78) than in any year since 2001 and fewer other MVA- related deaths (n=162) than in any other year of the period.
This report documents important differences in temporal and epidemiologic characteristics of fatal motorcycle accidents and other MVAs. For example, from 2002 through 2008, rates of fatal motorcycle accidents increased while rates of other MVA-related deaths declined. Fatal motorcycle accidents are much more frequent in warm weather months; in contrast, there is not distinct seasonality in the incidence of non-motorcycle-related fatal accidents. Compared to their female counterparts, males are eight times more likely to die from motorcycle-related injuries but only twice as likely to die from other MVAs. Rates of fatal non-motorcycle-related accidents sharply decline with increasing age; in contrast, rates of motorcycle-related fatalities are highest among service members in their twenties.
The sharp differences in temporal relationships and correlates of risk between fatal motorcycle and other MVAs suggest that preventive interventions should be tailored to each specifically. For example, the sharp increases in motorcycle-related deaths prior to 2008 were noted and aggressively countered by the Services. Service and local safety centers highlighted vehicle safety in publications, messages, and educational and training materials; installations required training and proficiency testing before issuing permits for on- post motorcycle use; some installations provided controlled, supervised venues for high performance uses of motorcycle; and so on. The sharp declines in motorcycle-related fatalities in 2009 and 2010 are likely due at least in part to such efforts. The effects of preventive interventions should be tracked, and the most effective should be identified and documented to enable broader implementation.
Language: en |