Previous research into motorcycle safety has shown that novice drivers, intoxicated riders, and riders on road curves have the highest crash risks if exposure is kept constant, and the highest risks of more-severe injuries when a crash occurs. Police-reported casualty crashes (1990-1993) were analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques to estimate the involvement of various factors in the crash risks of these groups of riders compared with the crashes in the comparison groups of motorcyclists. While the magnitude of the crash risk within these three groups could not be estimated without appropriate exposure data, the results of this study do identify factors that might lead to future road-safety measures. In all three high risk groups, riders at night or during alcohol-times were overinvolved in crashes and more likely to be seriously injured compared to control groups of riders. Each high risk group was also overrepresented in crashes involving loss of control of the motorcycle. These two factors are suggested as possible areas for further investigation and, possibly, countermeasure development.
Abstract