Passive Protection:

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The Motorcycle Riders Foundation
Meeting of the
minds 08

• Passive Protection
• A Failed Motorcycle Safety Paradigm

ThomasDoc Ski Wasileski, PhD
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Problem Resolution (NHTSA style)

• Problem
• Motorcycle Fatalities continue to rise
• Passive Protection not working for MC
• Thirty Five years of Survive-the-Crash-
  Mentality
  
• Bureacratic Survival Threat
• Solution
• Exaggerate The Issue
• Protect the System-Blame the Victim
• Wont use our helmet
• Alcohol
• Speed
• Cultural problem
• Remove threat from the Mix
• Regulate to reduce population

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MotorcyclesA Valuable Resource in Americas
Transportation Network

• 1. Reduce Congestion
• 2. Contribute to the Economy
• 3. Reduce Fuel Consumption
• 4. Reduce Highway Wear
• 5. Recreational Resource

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Antiquated and Obsolete Passive Protection
Paradigm

• Hurt Studies 1976-1981
• Traffic conditions
• Roadways
• Opposing Vehicle Geometry
• Motorcycle Design
• Congestion Speed Limits
• Rider Driver Characteristics
• Age
• Distractions
• Personality Attributes

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A New Motorcycle Safety Paradigm

• NHTSAs Data Analysis and Reporting
• Independent Research With NHTSA Data
• Insurance Institute For Highway Safety
• NTSB Chairman
• Federal Funding Indications
• A Model to Consider
• Crash Research
• Awareness Programs and Evaluation
• Education Programs and Evaluation

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Scientific Principles
Valid and Reliable Variables Hypothesis Testing P
rocess Appropriate use of Categorical Data Appro
priate Conclusions for Data Analysis
Replication Studies
NHTSAs Analysis
Inappropriate Data Collection Data Mining Sensat
ionalistic Reporting
Guess-timations
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VMT

• Low priority placed on collecting accurate MC
  travel data.
  
• Reporting motorcycle data was optional and
  several States chose not to code it.
  
• Since motorcycles are much less common than other
  types of vehicle travel, a proportionately larger
  effect would be needed to detect the same percent
  change.
• The limited motorcycle travel data affects the
  credibility and accuracy of analyses and hampers
  the ability to produce precise motorcycle
  statistics.
• Traffic Sensors dont register motorcycles
  consistently.
  
• Motorcycles have different usage patterns during
  the week and different seasonal patterns.
  

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TRB Traffic Monitoring Data VMT Concerns
Collection and Analysis ConferenceMid-Atlantic
States02 May 2007
1. Motorcycles are a small, lightweight vehicle
that can be difficult to detect with some sensors
.   2. Coverage counts are typically collected y
ear round due to the size of programs and number
of counts required. Motorcycle traffic can be
very seasonal and VMT estimates would be affected
by the month counts were collected.
  3. Coverage counts are typically collected Mond
ay through Thursday. Motorcycle traffic can be hi
ghly recreationalweekend influenced, again
impacting on the VMT estimate.
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Insurance Institute For Highway Safety
"....we believe the current and historical
license and registration data  are not reliable
measures of driver and vehicle exposure." 
2. "The use  of these data may lead to erroneous
conclusions." 3. .large discrepancies between
FHWA and state-reported data  on motorcycle
registrations 4. Therefore, we have suspende
d use of these  data until we can be assured of
their accuracy."
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Possible Legislative Responses

• Mandatory Rider Education/Re-Education
• Graduated Licensing
• Engine Size
• Experience
• Stricter Protective Equipment Mandates
• Vehicle Design Mandates
• Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Restricted Access for Motorcycles

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Forming Partnerships Against Federalism
1. Strengthen Existing Political relations
2. Infiltrate Bureaucratic Agencies
3. Involve MC Dealers Organizations
4. Collaborate w/ National Conference of State
Legislatures 5. Rigorous Research into Effectiv
eness of Alternative Interventions
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SAFETEA-LU (PL 109-59 Section 20)
25 Million to Individual Qualifying States
100,000 annually 4 year program Crash Study
3 million to pay for a study of motorcycle
crashes. funding will go to the Oklahoma Transp
Center Oklahoma State University.
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Research Center for Motorcycle Safety and Crash
Prevention
Crash Research Center
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Dissemination
Awareness Division
Education Division
Motorist Awareness Campaign
Rider Safety Awareness Campaign
Rider Education Awareness Campaign
HS Driver Education Program
Motorcyclist Education Program
Accident Scene Reporting Protocol
Classroom Instructional Module
Rider Mentoring Program
Individualized Mastery Learning Module
Fig 1 An example of the structure of the Center
using issues from the current research and safety
literature.
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• Motorcycle Safety Research Center
• Research Design and Priorities
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Information Clearing House
• Dissemination Center

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Evaluation Methods

• Quantitative
• Crash Studies and critical variables
• Appropriate Statistical analysis
• Qualitative
• Crash Involved Rider Interviews
• Crash Prevention Rider Forums
• Successful Crash Avoidance strategies
• Product
• Education and Awareness Program Evaluations

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Research Center for Motorcycle Safety and Crash
Prevention
Crash Research Center
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Dissemination
Awareness Division
Education Division
Motorist Awareness Campaign
Rider Safety Awareness Campaign
Rider Education Awareness Campaign
HS Driver Education Program
Motorcyclist Education Program
Accident Scene Reporting Protocol
Classroom Instructional Module
Rider Mentoring Program
Individualized Mastery Learning Module
Fig 1 An example of the structure of the Center
using issues from the current research and safety
literature.