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Death by Motorcycle: Background, Behavioral, and Situational Correlates of Fatal Motorcycle Collisions * ,†
Author(s) -
Nunn Samuel
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01657.x
Subject(s) - injury prevention , poison control , situational ethics , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , cause of death , human factors and ergonomics , bridge (graph theory) , medical emergency , forensic engineering , demography , computer security , psychology , medicine , engineering , social psychology , computer science , surgery , disease , pathology , sociology
Motorcycle fatalities in the United States continue to increase on both crude and adjusted bases. This paper examines fatal motorcycle accidents as a cause of death, using a retrospective analysis of motorcycle operator fatalities from 2003 to 2008 in the state of Indiana. During these six years, out of more than 18,000 motorcycle operators in crashes, 601 were killed. Based on police report data, motorcycle operators during this period are examined to reveal key factors that are in place when a motorcyclist is killed in a collision. The major correlates of death identified were objects of impact, risky behaviors, and speed. The largest positive effects on the chances of death were linked to trees, posts‐signs‐poles, bridge‐guardrail‐median, and other motor vehicles. In conjunction with speed, these objects were the primary mechanisms by which fatal injuries were sustained by motorcyclists. Various types of risky behavior were also major correlates of death by motorcycle.