ALCOHOL INVOLVEMENT IN FATAL MOTORCYCLE CRASHES

This research note focuses in detail on the problem of alcohol involvement in fatal motorcycle crashes based on who are involved, where and when crashes occur, and other crash characteristics. An overwhelming majority of the motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes are male (97%). Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes among motorcycle operators as a longer-term trend has shown a slow but steady improvement from 49% in 1992 to 37% in 2001. In 2001, among all motorcycle operator age groups, the 40-49 year old age group had the highest percentage of alcohol involvement (46%). In 2001, alcohol involvement among motorcycle operators in single vehicle crashes was almost twice the involvement than in multiple vehicle crashes (49% vs. 27%). Motorcycle operators riding on 1,001-1,500 cc engine size motorcycles had the highest alcohol involvement in fatal crashes (44%) among all engine size groups. Alcohol involvement in nighttime crashes was almost three times the involvement than that of daytime crashes (54% vs. 19%). Three-fourths of operators involved in fatal crashes between midnight and 3 AM were alcohol-positive. Motorcycle operators not wearing a helmet or who were improperly licensed or speeding at the time of a fatal crash were more likely to be alcohol-positive than other operators. These statistics are based on data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).