Recent accident data indicate that death and injuries attributable to motorcycle crashes are becoming an increasing problem in public health. In the United States motorcycle crashes have been increasing since 1997, while injuries have been increasing since 1998. European countries like Germany, France and the United Kingdom show similar trends. The effects of a crash involving a motorcycle can often be devastating. While 20% of passenger vehicle crashes result in injury or death, 80% of motorcycle crashes result in injury or death. Also, the motorcycle community is now experiencing increasing growth. Besides this, it is important to note that most fatalities in single motorcycle crashes relate to problems negotiating a curve prior to a crash. The objectives of this study were to characterize and evaluate motorcycle rider habits in route choice and risk taking relevant for highway safety design purposes. Furthermore, road features contributing to increased motorcycle accidents were described and evaluated. A survey of motorcycle riders revealed that experiencing risk, as it is assumed in some "Sensation Seeking" theories, was, by the majority, not their intent when using a motorcycle. A detailed accident analysis covering the state Brandenburg, Germany, outlined that motorcycle accidents are concentrated on road sections with specific design features which are described in detail within the body of the paper. A two-lane rural highway (State Route L 291 Eberswalde - Liepe), a typical motorcycle route nearby Berlin, was the subject of a detailed quantitative Safety Analysis including the geometric, dynamic and psychological aspects of driving.
Samenvatting