MOTORCYCLE CRASHES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1987 TO 1997

The aim of this project was to describe the characteristics of motorcycle crashes in Western Australia, so that this information may be used in the development of effective countermeasures aimed at minimising the frequency of motorcycle crashes. In the eleven years 1987 to 1997 there were 14,257 crashes involving motorcycles in Western Australia. The number of crashes involving motorcycles has decreased over the past eleven years, but the proportions of multiple and single vehicle crashes have not changed. About two thirds of crashes involved injury. About 60 percent of motorcycle crashes involved another vehicle, and about 20 percent involved a motorcycle only. These two major groups of motorcycle crashes, multiple and single vehicle crashes, have very different characteristics. Multiple vehicle crashes were associated with: daylight, weekdays, intersections, straight sections of road, dry surfaces, sealed surfaces, a low incidence of illegal BACs and of non-helmet wearing. There was a high proportion of multiple vehicle crashes in Perth and major rural towns. In 40 percent of crashes involving another vehicle the car was turning across the path of the motorcycle. Single vehicle crashes were associated with: darkness, weekends, curves, slopes, wet surfaces, unsealed roads, and sites not at intersections. They were also associated with high blood alcohol concentrations and not wearing a helmet. There was a higher proportion of single vehicle crashes in rural and remote regions. (a)