Although quite old data, read through the findings, not much has changed huh? What one did you run into.
I added the BOLD statements for fun, Sound off with your opnion so we can see how valid this study still is. Some is spot on and some just don't apply to us Roady riders.

EDIT NOTE from GRAM: A complete copy of this study and its conclusions is available here: Hurt Study

Summary of Findings

Throughout the accident and exposure data there are special observations which relate to accident and injury causation and characteristics of the motorcycle accidents studied. These findings are summarized as follows:

Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.
Look out for the Cages!?

Approximately one-fourth of these motorcycle accidents were single vehicle accidents involving the motorcycle colliding with the roadway or some fixed object in the environment.
EW, we have seen some of that here on the clinic! Is oil a fixed object?

Vehicle failure accounted for less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, and most of those were single vehicle accidents where control was lost due to a puncture flat.
So is that to say we only have a 3% chance to have a Flat at speed? Not bad eh?

In the single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slide-out and fall due to over-braking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.
Dawg! I can vouch for that in all the close ones I have had!

Roadway defects (pavement ridges, potholes, etc.) were the accident cause in 2% of the accidents; animal involvement was 1% of the accidents.
Well I have had way too many close calls with animals then, More animals in Ohio?

In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.
Who didn't know that?

The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.
Pay attention to your front end people, Lights, reflectors! Color of helmet.

Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is a rare accident cause. The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.
This one chills every one's spine!

Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.
Another chilly one!

Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents.
You see I am not so crazy riding in winter after all!

Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
Same stuff with a car accident. Test rides should be taken seriously with all gear on! Who's guilty?

The view of the motorcycle or the other vehicle involved in the accident is limited by glare or obstructed by other vehicles in almost half of the multiple vehicle accidents.
What do we do about this one? Pass out sun glasses? Or add more chrome?

Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.
Yea Law to keep HL on here, but the jacket looks so funny but yet works so well, I wear one in rain does that count?

Fuel system leaks and spills were present in 62% of the motorcycle accidents in the post-crash phase. This represents an undue hazard for fire.
Well Make that 100% for Road*'s even with system intact mine leaked on a soft lay down. Like crazy!

The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph, and the one-in-a-thousand crash speed is approximately 86 mph.
AH! Road* redeem themselves here, never known of a crash over 50 with a Road*.

The typical motorcycle pre-crash lines-of-sight to the traffic hazard portray no contribution of the limits of peripheral vision; more than three-fourths of all accident hazards are within 45deg of either side of straight ahead.
Ok you guys not wearing helmets because of visibility chime in.

Conspicuity of the motorcycle is most critical for the frontal surfaces of the motorcycle and rider.
I think we mention that! But yet everyone wants to "Clean up" front and rear.

Vehicle defects related to accident causation are rare and likely to be due to deficient or defective maintenance.
AH! Thanks RSC! We can skip this one!

Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are significantly overrepresented in accidents; motorcycle riders between the ages of 30 and 50 are significantly underrepresented. Although the majority of the accident-involved motorcycle riders are male (96%), the female motorcycles riders are significantly overrepresented in the accident data.
AH! I have to admit Schatzie is much more careful rider than me, females win this one!

Craftsmen, laborers, and students comprise most of the accident-involved motorcycle riders. Professionals, sales workers, and craftsmen are underrepresented and laborers, students and unemployed are overrepresented in the accidents.
CRAP! I'm unemployed! I better not have an accident!

Motorcycle riders with previous recent traffic citations and accidents are overrepresented in the accident data.
So if you got a ticket, you better tune yourself in!

The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.
Ok we all sign up for a Refresher Class!

More than half of the accident-involved motorcycle riders had less than 5 months experience on the accident motorcycle, although the total street riding experience was almost 3 years. Motorcycle riders with dirt bike experience are significantly underrepresented in the accident data.
Why people loan bikes is beyond me. How many former dirt guys thinks it helps on the road?

Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.
HA! I agree but when Schatzie on rear we split attention 50 50! I like a poke in the ribs now and then.

Almost half of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement.
Never me!

Motorcycle riders in these accidents showed significant collision avoidance problems. Most riders would over-brake and skid the rear wheel, and under-brake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration. The ability to countersteer and swerve was essentially absent.
AHHHH a DS tire fish tails and skids significantly less than an MC tire JFYI.

The typical motorcycle accident allows the motorcyclist just less than 2 seconds to complete all collision avoidance action.
That's hardly ever enough time no is it? Especially since 1st second is spent going, Are they really going to do that to me?

Passenger-carrying motorcycles are not overrepresented in the accident area.
More than 3/4 of time I have Schatzie on the rear. World's best Passenger.

The driver of the other vehicles involved in collision with the motorcycle are not distinguished from other accident populations except that the ages of 20 to 29, and beyond 65 are overrepresented. Also, these drivers are generally unfamiliar with motorcycles.
Everyone Cage should become familiar with MC's and trucks!

The large displacement motorcycles are underrepresented in accidents but they are associated with higher injury severity when involved in accidents.
Oh really! That seems odd more LD's would be on the road heh?

Any effect of motorcycle color on accident involvement is not determinable from these data, but is expected to be insignificant because the frontal surfaces are most often presented to the other vehicle involved in the collision.
So, any color you want, Black is faster!

Motorcycles equipped with fairings and windshields are underrepresented in accidents, most likely because of the contribution to conspicuity and the association with more experienced and trained riders.
The whole reason I got a MS fairing! Ha ha! I think it's more like I'm going to dick up 2K worth of stuff if i go down!

Motorcycle riders in these accidents were significantly without motorcycle license, without any license, or with license revoked.
And people loan their bikes to these people! ???

Motorcycle modifications such as those associated with the semi-chopper or cafe racer are definitely overrepresented in accidents.
Does this mean they wreck more?

The likelihood of injury is extremely high in these motorcycle accidents-98% of the multiple vehicle collisions and 96% of the single vehicle accidents resulted in some kind of injury to the motorcycle rider; 45% resulted in more than a minor injury. Something about the degree of rake I suppose.

Half of the injuries to the somatic regions were to the ankle-foot, lower leg, knee, and thigh-upper leg.
So install a crash bar right? Read next

Crash bars are not an effective injury countermeasure; the reduction of injury to the ankle-foot is balanced by increase of injury to the thigh-upper leg, knee, and lower leg.
So THATS why the WARNING on the crash bars eh?

The use of heavy boots, jacket, gloves, etc., is effective in preventing or reducing abrasions and lacerations, which are frequent but rarely severe injuries.
Tell not severe to someone who had bad case of road rash!

Groin injuries were sustained by the motorcyclist in at least 13% of the accidents, which typified by multiple vehicle collision in frontal impact at higher than average speed.
Yeikes!

Injury severity increases with speed, alcohol involvement and motorcycle size.

Seventy-three percent of the accident-involved motorcycle riders used no eye protection, and it is likely that the wind on the unprotected eyes contributed in impairment of vision which delayed hazard detection.

Approximately 50% of the motorcycle riders in traffic were using safety helmets but only 40% of the accident-involved motorcycle riders were wearing helmets at the time of the accident.

Voluntary safety helmet use by those accident-involved motorcycle riders was lowest for untrained, uneducated, young motorcycle riders on hot days and short trips.

The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.

The use of the safety helmet is the single critical factor in the prevention of reduction of head injury; the safety helmet which complies with FMVSS 218 is a significantly effective injury countermeasure.

Safety helmet use caused no attenuation of critical traffic sounds, no limitation of precrash visual field, and no fatigue or loss of attention; no element of accident causation was related to helmet use.
I better not say anything huh?

FMVSS 218 provides a high level of protection in traffic accidents, and needs modification only to increase coverage at the back of the head and demonstrate impact protection of the front of full facial coverage helmets, and insure all adult sizes for traffic use are covered by the standard.
I think they just changed and updated this requirement.

Helmeted riders and passengers showed significantly lower head and neck injury for all types of injury, at all levels of injury severity.
I think they are getting to something here?

The increased coverage of the full facial coverage helmet increases protection, and significantly reduces face injuries. DUH! I feel so unprotected with anything less so why do I wear them?

There is not liability for neck injury by wearing a safety helmet; helmeted riders had less neck injuries than unhelmeted riders. Only four minor injuries were attributable to helmet use, and in each case the helmet prevented possible critical or fatal head injury.
I hear all kinds of stuff on this one. I wear a helmet.

Sixty percent of the motorcyclists were not wearing safety helmets at the time of the accident. Of this group, 26% said they did not wear helmets because they were uncomfortable and inconvenient, and 53% simply had no expectation of accident involvement.
Note that the speed that accidents most happen, the helmets provide the most protection. (Under 30)

Valid motorcycle exposure data can be obtained only from collection at the traffic site. Motor vehicle or driver license data presents information which is completely unrelated to actual use.
That's Chinese to me.

Less than 10% of the motorcycle riders involved in these accidents had insurance of any kind to provide medical care or replace property.
Yeikes!

More than 15 years old at this time, the study still offers riders insight into the statistics regarding motorcycle accidents and tips on safer riding.

With funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, researcher Harry Hurt (from which the study gets its common name) of the University of Southern California, investigated almost every aspect of 900 motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, Hurt and his staff analyzed 3,600 motorcycle traffic accident reports in the same geographic area.

This is the same study that is frequently quoted in the MSF rider safety courses.

A complete non-summarized version of this document is available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by ordering document number PB81-206443/LL. The cost is $84.00 each per document plus $5.00 handling per order. For more information, call the NTIS Sales Desk at 1-800-553-NTIS or 1-703-605-6000.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------