Citation

Wang C, Lu L, Lu J, Wang T. Traffic Injury Prev. 2016; 17(2): 188-194.

Affiliation

Key Laboratory of Road and Traffic Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Tongji University , 4800 Cao'an Road, Shanghai , PR China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15389588.2015.1045502

PMID

26068308

Abstract

Objectives In order to improve motorcycle safety, this paper examines correlation between crash avoidance maneuvers and injury severity sustained by motorcyclists, under multiple pre-crash conditions.

METHOD Ten-year crash data of single-vehicle motorcycle crashes from the General Estimates Systems (GES) were analyzed, using partial proportional odds models (i.e. generalized ordered logit models).

RESULTS The modelling results show that "braking (no lockup)" is associated with a higher probability of increased severity while "braking (lockup)" is associated with a higher probability of decreased severity, under all pre-crash conditions. "Steering" is associated with a higher probability of reduced injury severity when other vehicles are encroaching, while it is correlated with high injury severity under other conditions. "Braking and steering" is significantly associated with a higher probability of low severity under "animal encounter and object presence", while it is surprisingly correlated with high injury severity when motorcycles are travelling off the edge of the road. The results also show that a large number of motorcyclists did not perform any crash avoidance maneuvers or conducted crash avoidance maneuvers that are significantly associated with high injury severity.

CONCLUSIONS In general, this study suggests that pre-crash maneuvers is an important factor associated with motorcyclists' injury severity. To improve motorcycle safety, training/educational programs are suggested to be considered, for it could improve safety awareness and adjust driving habits of motorcyclists. Anti-lock brakes and such systems are also promising, because they could effectively prevent brake lock-up and assist motorcyclists in maneuvering during critical conditions. This study also provides valuable information for the design of motorcycle training curriculum.

Language: en