The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) reports that a significant new motorcycle crash causation study will soon get under way at Oklahoma State University (OSU). Announced last October by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the study claims it will give motorcyclists a better picture of how motorcycles fit into today's traffic mix, a deeper understanding of what causes crashes, and insights into strategies to prevent these crashes. The FHWA said researchers would evaluate data from hundreds of motorcycle crashes to help identify common factors, including road configurations, environmental conditions and rider experience.
The study was mandated by the "Safety, Accountability, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act" (SAFETEA-LU) legislation of 2005 which committed $2.8 million for the study, and asked the motorcycle industry to match that amount. The industry responded by promising $3 million for the study (via the MSF), but under the condition that an adequate number of cases be collected so that the US study could be comparable to other international motorcycle studies as statistically significant. The MSF requested that the study increase the number of cases involved to at least 900.
The study may still not get the funding it needs: new estimates by the MSF figure the total cost to be nearer to $8?9 million, and additional monies haven?t yet appeared from any sources. -AC