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How similar are two-unit bicycle and motorcycle crashes?

journal contribution
posted on 2013-09-01, 00:00 authored by Narelle Haworth, Ashim DebnathAshim Debnath
This paper explores the similarities and differences between bicycle and motorcycle crashes with other motor vehicles. If similar treatments can be effective for both bicycle and motorcycle crashes, then greater benefits in terms of crash costs saved may be possible for the same investment in treatments. To reduce the biases associated with under-reporting of these crashes to police, property damage and minor injury crashes were excluded. The most common crash type for both bicycles (31.1%) and motorcycles (24.5%) was intersection from adjacent approaches. Drivers of other vehicles were coded most at fault in the majority of two-unit bicycle (57.0%) and motorcycle crashes (62.7%). The crash types, patterns of fault and factors affecting fault were generally similar for bicycle and motorcycle crashes. This confirms the need to combat the factors contributing to failure of other drivers to yield right of way to two-wheelers, and suggest that some of these actions should prove beneficial to the safety of both motorized and non-motorized two-wheelers. In contrast, child bicyclists were more often at fault, particularly in crashes involving a vehicle leaving the driveway or footpath. The greater reporting of violations by riders and drivers in motorcycle crashes also deserves further investigation.

History

Journal

Accident analysis & prevention

Volume

58

Pagination

15-25

Location

Amstedam, The Netherlands

ISSN

0001-4575

eISSN

1879-2057

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2013, Elsevier

Publisher

Elsevier