U.S. motorcyclist deaths dropped consistently from 1980 to 1997 but are now increasing considerably each year. In 1997, 2,116 motorcyclists were killed; in 2001, the number was up to 3,181, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The rising number of motorcycles on the road is one contributing factor to the rising death toll; but, even with this increase taken into account, the number of crashes is up. The rate of fatal U.S. crashes per 100 million miles traveled increased by 59% from 1997 to 2001, i.e., from 21.43 crashes per 100 million miles to 34.4 crashes per 100 million miles traveled. In 1997, one in 20 U.S. road fatalities was a motorcycle rider; in 2001, it was one in 13. NHTSA cites many possible causes for the increased motorcycle death rate, such as the fact that riders tend to be older. The average age of motorcyclists killed in crashes increased from 29.3 in 1990 to 36.3 in 2001. Another contributing factor is the increase in motorcycle engine sizes--an average of 769 cu cm in 1990 to 959 cu cm in 2001. According to the NHTSA, a weakening in mandatory motorcycle helmet laws plays a major contributing factor in the motorcycle death rates. Since 1997, five states--Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Florida--removed mandatory helmet laws. NHTSA studies show a dramatic increase in fatalities in each of these states except Florida. Motorcycle fatalities in Louisiana increased by 170% from 1997 to 2002. Injuries increased by 58% in the same time period. This report presents a detailed analysis of the Louisiana crash data to determine factors contributing to the increase in motorcycle fatalities. The crash data for 1996 to 2002 serve as the basis for this analysis. Some of the data for years prior to 1999 are not readily available because of archiving of the data. In summary, Louisiana crash data show that a combination of factors contributed to the rise in motorcycle fatalities and injuries on Louisiana highways. There is convincing evidence that a decline in helmet use is the most important factor contributing to death and severe injury in motorcycle crashes. Other factors are an increase in alcohol use specifically on weekends and an increase in "pleasure" riders on weekends specifically in the evening hours in the last couple of years. These riders often do not have motorcycle endorsements and, thus, may have less experience in driving a motorcycle than riders who use their motorcycle regularly to drive to work.
Samenvatting