Motorcyclist fatalities decreased each year from 1993 to 1997, reaching a historic low of 2,116 in 1997. In 1998 and again in 1999 this trend was reversed with increases to 2,294 (8.7%) in 1998 and to 2,472 (7.8%) in 1999. The overall increase in motorcyclist fatalities from 1997 to 1999 was 356 (16.8%). This reversal in the fatality trend prompted and analysis into the possible reasons for the surge in fatalities in recent years. The objective of this study is to analyse the combined motor vehicle crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) with the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the US Census Bureau for the recent increases in motorcyclist fatalities. The combined data is then used to calculate rates and identify possible causes for the recent increases in motorcyclist fatalities for developing crash prevention programs. (A)
Samenvatting