Relationship between rider trajectory and injury outcome in motorcycle-to-barrier crashes

Abstract

In collisions with traffic barriers, motorcyclists have a much higher risk of fatality than other road users. Many databases focus on the vehicle when reporting the sequence of events; however, in motorcycle collisions, the vehicle and rider often separate and follow different trajectories. The aim of this study was to determine how rider trajectory influences injury outcome. Rider trajectories in barrier collisions were determined through an analysis of police accident reports from New Jersey (2007 to 2011). Seven trajectories were identified: upright, sliding, vaulting, ejected (same side landing), ejected (side unknown), ejected into barrier, and separated before barrier impact. Google Earth Street View was used to verify the barrier type in each collision. Of the 442 single-vehicle motorcycle-to-barrier collisions reported in New Jersey, police accident reports were analyzed for 430 crashes and the barriers were identified for 342 of these crashes (77.4% of all crashes). In the analyzed crashes, 361 riders and passengers were involved. In these crashes, riders most often struck the barrier upright without being ejected from the motorcycle. Barrier type and occurrence on an entrance or exit ramp were found to have a significant effect on the distribution of rider trajectory outcomes. Additionally, being ejected from the motorcycle after striking the barrier increased the odds of serious injury by 2.91 times (95% confidence interval: 1.31 to 6.46).