For completion of the type approval of two- or three-wheeled motor vehicles, and in particular of Directive 95/1/EC of the European Community, the Directorate General III (Industry) commissioned a study to examine whether there is a relation between motorcycle accident occurrence and motorcycle engine power exceeding 74 kW. The first phase of this study comprised a literature survey (see ST 970653) of existing studies, together with the factors that are likely to have a bearing on motorcycle accidents. This second phase consists of the following items: (1) detailed arguments in order to demonstrate why a new study would not show statistically reliable relationship between engine power and the occurrence of accidents; (2) recorded accidents and accident scenarios in which the engine power has or may have played a roll will be described; and (3) a comparison will be made of the power-to-weight ratio and acceleration potential of motorcycles and those of fast passenger cars and sports cars. (A)
Abstract