New research on motorcycle safety published

New research on motorcycle safety was recently published. FIM previews the report: Speed is not the only factor in injury if you fall off a motorcycle in a traffic collision.

One of the authors, Dr Elaine Hardy, will make the first presentation of the results at a Road Safety GB conference on powered two-wheeler safety on 19th March at the Royal Automobile Club in London.

FIM Director of Public Affairs, Jesper Christensen and Executive Secretary International Affairs, John Chatterton-Ross will attend the conference.

The survey was published in eight languages: English, French, Swedish, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek and Norwegian.

The on-line survey was open from May to October 2019. 1,578 motorcyclists from 30 countries replied to 39 questions.      

The researchers were:

- James V. Ouellet, United States of America
- Elaine Hardy, United Kingdom
- Martin Winkelbauer, Austria
- Dimitris Margaritis, Greece

James Ouellet co-authored the seminal US Hurt Report. – The first large scale research into motorcycle safety, led by Professor Harry Hurt.    

Martin Winkelbauer and Dimitris Margaritis contributed to the OECD/ITF report; “Improving Safety for Motorcycle, Scooter and Moped Riders”.  

Elaine Hardy was engaged by the government of Northern Ireland to conduct research into fatal traffic collisions involving motorcyclists.      

1 578 motorcyclists from 30 countries replied to the survey. 43% of the respondents had taken post licence training.

36.3% of the motorcycles were fitted with Anti-lock braking (ABS), 12% fitted with traction control.

35% of the riders did not use their brakes prior to crashing.

48.7% collided with a car.

22.5% of riders replied that the crash was single vehicle (lost control).

65% of riders admitted to hospital were travelling under 70 kph (44 mph).

Indications are that the speed at which the rider was travelling before a collision is not a predictor to the time spent in hospital.

The severity of injury can be serious, even if the collision was at a low speed, and vice versa.

FIM’s John Chatterton-Ross commented:

“Jesper Christensen and I look forward to the presentation of this report at the London conference hosted by Road Safety GB in London on 19th March.

In June 2020, the International Transport Forum - the Swedish government, and the Swedish Motorcyclists Central Organisation (SMC) will host a motorcycle safety workshop Stockholm. This will be the follow-up to the 2008 event in Norway which led to the ITF report cited above.    

In 2020 we ask: “Why are motorcyclists not included in Vision Zero?”

I commend the researchers for publishing their survey in eight languages. 1 578 replies proves the credibility of this research."

FIM Communications