Some particulars clear, others still unclear in new motorcycle safety study

November 8, 5:19 PMMotorcycle ExaminerKen Bingenheimer

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Motorcycle Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Studying a crash thoroughly is not inexpensive

While the methods, or protocols, to be used in a new motorcycle safety study have been determined, other particulars such as how many crashes will be studied, how many study sites will be set up, and when data gathering will begin remain to be decided. And some of these particulars will be determined by the amount of money available for the study.

It was originally estimated that a valid study would require $6 million. In 2005 Congress approved $3 million with the requirement that the public and industry put up a matching $3 million. The matching money was raised and theoretically the study could commence. Problems arose, however, when it was determined that $6 million would not be enough money to study as many cases as anticipated. I examined this issue in my previous article.

Because money is such an issue, it is useful to understand why the cost per crash is so high. Even if 1,200 crashes were studied for the original $6 million earmarked, that comes out to $5,000 per crash. How does the study of one crash cost $5,000? Or significantly more, as seems to be the case.

As mentioned above, the protocols of the study have been determined. A pilot program was conducted in Los Angeles in late 2008 and early 2009 to test the methods and ensure that the desired data would be collected as anticipated. The results of that initial study were incorporated into the plans for the general study.

Gathering extensive data

Specifically, high-accident intersections will be equipped with cameras and other sensors to record a wide range of data about crashes as they occur. Field investigators will then also contact two other motorcyclists who transited the same intersection at around the same time to ask them about specific conditions. These two motorcyclists will be the controls vis a vis the crash victim. They will help the investigators better understand any unusual or pertinent conditions that may have contributed to the crash.

Depending on the amount of money available for the study, there may be as many as nine study sites, in three states. The three states would be California, Texas, and Florida. However, the more sites studied the greater the cost of preparing the intersections and the more field investigators must be trained and funded. Consequently, it is possible that only one or two states may have study sites.

According to Dr. Samir Ahmed, the Oklahoma State University researcher leading the study, "Ideally we would like to have two sites, although three would be better. If we have the money we will choose different states with different environments. It boils down to funding."

Although the study has officially begun, data collection is not likely to begin until mid-January, said Dr. Ahmed. For the moment there are matters such as confidentiality commitments to get hammered out so that the control riders, who might conceivably be involved in something illegal, will be willing to provide honest answers to questions put to them.

Once data gathering begins, it will take several years for all the data to be collected, studied, and a conclusion reached. Only then will the results be announced. The benefits of the study will then start to be felt.

According to Peter Terhorst, spokesperson for the American Motorcyclist Association, "Safety officials and the government have long been resistant to basing new programming on 30-year-old data, and we remain confident that new information and insights will emerge from the study. This includes validating information that is already known, because it allows us to point to more recent findings when we are developing (motorcycle safety) strategy."

The 30-year-old data he refers to is "Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures," known as the Hurt Study, conducted in the 1970s.

Related articles
New motorcycle safety study in pilot stage
New motorcycle safety study: Valid number of crashes to study is unknown
Some particulars clear, others still unclear in new motorcycle safety study
Motorcycle Safety Foundation open to reconsidering safety study funding

Check out the latest articles from other Motorcycle Examiners:

• Cycle World International Motorcycle Show - Seattle - Seattle Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• Vets for Vets; motorcycle event draws more than 2,000 participants - Shreveport Motorcycle Travel Examiner, Mary Baker
• Motorcycles and red light sensors; which ones don't work? - Baltimore Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• New motorcycle safety study: Valid number of crashes to study is unknown - National Motorcycle Examiner
• Memory Lane -  - photos from motorcycle rides throughout the USA and Canada included - Fort Collins Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• Cycle World international motorcycle show - Dallas Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• Pagosa Springs - Water that has strong smell? - Colorado Springs Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• The vintage project part 4 - before you start get organized - National Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• Drinking and riding  -Newark Motorcycle Examiner
• BMW 2010 R1300RT - spy shots - Colorado Springs Motorcycle Examiner
• Learning to ride a Sidecar Rig - Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• Mental and physical discipline in motorcycle riding - target fixation and gravel - Spokane Motorcycle Travel Examiner
• BMW demo ride - first impressions: Sport - K1300S - DC Motorcycle Travel Examiner