Completed 2018 Research Project

Investigating the Vulnerability of Motorcyclists to Crashes and Injury

Principal Investigator 
Asad J. Khattak
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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Co-Investigator
Arthur Goodwin
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Full Report

Project Slide Deck

Research Brief

Summary

This study examines various key risk factors associated with the injury severity of motorcycle crashes, such as riders’ helmet type and coverage, experience, and alcohol and multiple drug usage. From a methodological standpoint, a developed corner solution framework addressing both uncorrelated and correlated unobserved heterogeneity. The study analyzes extensive data from the MCCS (FHWA) for 321 injury crashes involving motorcycles. The Injury Severity Score (ISS), which accounts for multiple injuries sustained by different body parts of the riders, is the response variable. Compared to ISS, AIS tends to underestimate the injury severity sustained by the rider. ISS provides a more accurate approximation to mortality prediction.

Publication

• Wali, B., Khattak, A. J., & Ahmad, N. (2019). Examining correlations between motorcyclist’s conspicuity, apparel related factors and injury severity score: Evidence from new motorcycle crash causation study. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 131, 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2019.04.009

Project Details

Project Type:	Research
Project Status:	Completed
Start Date:	5-1-2018
End Date:	1-31-2021
Contract Year:	Year 2
Total Funding from CSCRS:	$76,988
Co-sponsor:	Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security; NC Department of Transportation
Collaborating Organizations:	University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill