Gramp

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Gramp Grams Big Adventure!Motorcycle Death
Injuries in IowaAn Age Old Problem?

• Scott R. Falb
• Iowa Department of Transportation
• 30th International Traffic Records Forum
• Session 1
• Monday, July 26, 2004

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History of Motorcycling in IowaRegistration

• Motorcycle Registrations between 1921-1946
  averaged 1,600-3,300.
• Registrations averaged around 10,000 from
  1947-1963.
• Registrations began to increase significantly in
  the late 1960s and through out the 1970s.
• Motorcycle Registrations reached its height in
  1980.

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History of Motorcycling in IowaRegistration

• Since 1980, registrations began a 17 year decline
  until reaching a 25 year low (107,473
  registrations) in 1997.
• Since 1997, registrations have again been
  increasing.
• In 2002 registrations were 124,230.
• The registration data for 2003 is not currently
  available.

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History of Motorcycling in IowaDriver License
HoldersThe Limitations of the Data

• Licensing Data Records are more spotty.
• There was no motorcycle driver license data found
  prior to 1977.
• Motorcycle driver license data are also missing
  for the years 1981-1992.

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History of Motorcycling in IowaDriver License
Holders

• Motorcycle license holder numbers reached an
  apparent peak in 1980262,295 license holders.
• This constituted 13.5 of total licensed drivers.
  
• In 2004, there were 224,665 license holders.
• This is 10.6 of all license holders.

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History of Motorcycling in IowaDriver License
Holders--Demographics

• In the 1970s, the largest age group of
  motorcycle license holders was 15-24 age group.
• By 1980, the largest age group of motorcycle
  license holders was the 25-34 age group.
• By the 1990s the largest age group shifted to
  the 35-44 age group.
• In the current decade (the double zeros?) the
  largest age group shifted yet again to the 45-54
  age group.
• Before the end of the decade the 55-64 age group
  will be the second largest age group of license
  holders.

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Motorcycle License Holders by Age1977 Through
2004
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Motorcycle Licensed Drivers By Age
GroupComparison 1977 to 2004
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Motorcycle Licensed Drivers By Age
GroupComparison 1993 to 2004
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Motorcycle Fatalities in Iowa

• The number of motorcycle fatalities have followed
  the number of motorcycle registration and the
  number of licensed drivers.
• Motorcycle Fatalities were in the single digits
  until 1963.
• In the later 1960s fatalities averaged at about
  24.
• In the 1970s Iowa averaged 56 fatalities,
  fatalities were increasing and hit the all time
  high of 82 in 1979.

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Motorcycle Fatalities in Iowa

• In the 1980s Iowa averaged 58 fatalities while
  fatalities were decreasing over the years.
• In the early 1990s fatalities continued to
  decrease until 1996 when Iowa hit a 32 year low
  of 16 fatalities.
• Since 1996 fatalities have steadily increased to
  51 fatalities in 2003.
• There have been 24 motorcycle fatalities through
  July 20th of this year 3 more than last year at
  the same time.

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Motorcycle Fatalities in Iowa

• The age of motorcycle fatalities follows the data
  concerning the age of motorcycle license holders.
• In the 1970s the age group that represented the
  vast majority of motorcycle fatalities was the
  15-24 age group.
• In the 1980s the 25-34 age group represented
  most frequently the largest group of motorcycle
  fatalities.
• In the 1990s there was no trend but the age
  groups 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 all had high
  numbers.
• By the 2000s the 35-44 and 45-54 age groups
  represented more fatalities than other age
  groups.

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Age of Motorcycle Drivers in Fatal Crashes

• The age of motorcycle drivers in fatal crashes
  were predominantly 15-24 in the 1970s.
• The largest age group fluctuated between 15-24
  and 25-34 in the 1980s.
• There was no dominant age group in the 1990s as
  more drivers in their 30s, 40s and 50s were
  represented.
• After 2000, the dominant age groups of drivers in
  fatal crashes were 35-44 and 45-54.

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Motorcycle Fatalities in Iowa

• Even though their numbers are no longer among the
  largest the youngest drivers, aged 15-24, are
  still over represented.
• Since 2000, drivers age 55-64 are increasing in
  number and on the verge of replacing the 25-34
  age group as the fourth largest age group
  involved in fatal crashes.
• Since 1990, drivers in the 65-74 age group are
  apparently beginning to establish a consistent
  presence among drivers in fatal crashes.
• Prior to 1990, motorcycle drivers in the 65-74
  age group have not been involved in fatal
  crashes.

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Motorcycle Injuries in Iowa

• In 1970, there were 1,366 motorcycle injuries.
• By 1973, motorcycle injuries had more than
  doubled to 2,823 as had motorcycle registrations.
• Injury numbers stayed at about 2,600 until 1985.
• Injury numbers began a steady decline until 1998
  when injuries hit at least a thirty year low at
  638.
• Since 1998, motorcycle injuries have been
  increasing.
• In 2003, there were 867 motorcycle injuries.

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2003 Study of Preliminary Motorcycle Fatality
Crashes

• 56.5 of motorcycle crashes were single vehicle
  crashes where the motorcyclist lost control of
  the motorcycle.
• In 28.3 of the motorcycle fatal crashes the
  speed of the motorcycle was a factor in the
  crash.
• In another 20 of the crashes the speed of the
  motorcycle is suspected to have been a factor in
  the crash.

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2003 Study of Preliminary Motorcycle Fatality
Crashes

• In 6 crashes the motorcycle overturned.
• In 16 crashes the motorcycle hit a fixed object.
• In 4 crashes the motorcycle collided with a deer.
• In 19 crashes motorcycles collided with another
  vehicle.

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2003 Study of Preliminary Motorcycle Fatality
CrashesTwo Vehicle Crashes

• 40 involved another vehicle failing to yield to
  the motorcycle.
• 15 involved another vehicle rear-ending the
  motorcycle.
• 15 involved another vehicle turning left in
  front of the motorcycle.
• 10 involved the motorcycle rear-ending another
  vehicle.
• 10 involved another vehicle crossing the
  centerline into the path of the motorcycle.

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2003 Study of Preliminary Motorcycle Fatality
Crashes

• Motorcycle speed was a factor in crashes that
  involved other vehicles as well as the single
  vehicle crashes.
• Only one motorcyclist killed wore a helmet in the
  crash, contributing to a high number of fatal
  head injuries and multiple injuries including
  head injuries.
• Alcohol was involved in at least 37 of the fatal
  motorcycle crashes (not all drivers are tested).
• Drugs were involved in at least 11 of fatal
  motorcycle crashes (not all drivers are tested).

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Iowas Motorcycle Helmet LawHistorical Precedent

• Iowa passed a helmet law for all riders in 1975
  allowing the state to receive federal safety
  money.
• The law took effect in September, 1975.
• Congress repeals the safety funds for helmet
  laws.
• Pressure from organized motorcycle groups caused
  the Iowa legislature to repeal the helmet law
  effective July 1, 1976.

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Motorcycle Crash InvolvementThe Effect of Iowas
Helmet LawSeptember 1, 1975 Through June 30, 1976
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Conclusions

• Fatalities and injuries in Iowa tend to rise and
  fall as as motorcycle registrations and driver
  licenses rise and fall.
• As motorcycle license holder population in Iowa
  ages the age of fatalities and injuries also
  increase.
• Errors by motorcyclists are a factor in the
  majority of fatal motorcycle crashes.

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Conclusions

• Aging motorcyclist will experience many of the
  problems experienced by aging four-wheelers loss
  of vision depth perception, loss of muscle mass,
  loss of physical agility, loss of cognitive
  processing speed and increased fragility in
  crashes.
• Aging motorcyclists will likely suffer more
  serious injuries than there younger counterparts
  and may take longer (even considerably longer) to
  recover.
• Aging motorcyclists may need more state services
  during that longer recovery period.

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Conclusions

• Alcohol involvement in 2003 motorcycle crashes
  are 25 higher than alcohol involvement in all
  fatal crashes.
• When a universal helmet law is in effect in Iowa
  fatal head injuries decrease dramatically.
• When a universal helmet law is repealed, fatal
  head injuries return to the previous
  (unacceptable) level.

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Thanks!

• Questions
• Scott R. Falb
• Research Statistical Analysis
• Office of Driver Service
• Iowa Department of Transportation
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail ltscott.falb_at_dot.state.ia.usgt