steveglatt
07-14-2004, 12:07 PM
Hey y'all...I'm a scientist, and am always browsing the literature on my particular topics of research (usually the genetics of mental illnesses), but sometimes I come across random stuff regarding motorcycling. Thus, I'm posting Part I of a new series of educational materials that I come across on motorcycling. Due to the nature of the literature, most of these exerpts will be about bad outcomes of riding, like crashes and injuries, but maybe we all can learn something useful from them as well. If you have any questions about these studies, post up or PM me.
Part I: A study of motorcycle rider conspicuity (visibility) and crash-related injury.
Link to this study! (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14742349)
This study is from the Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the risk of motorcycle crash related injuries is associated with the conspicuity of the driver or vehicle. DESIGN: Population based case-control study. SETTING: Auckland region of New Zealand from February 1993 to February 1996. PARTICIPANTS: 463 motorcycle drivers (cases) involved in crashes leading to hospital treatment or death; 1233 motorcycle drivers (controls) recruited from randomly selected roadside survey sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimates of relative risk of motorcycle crash-related injury and population attributable risk associated with conspicuity measures, including the use of reflective or fluorescent clothing, headlight operation, and colour of helmet, clothing, and motorcycle. RESULTS: Crash-related injuries occurred mainly in urban zones with 50 km/h speed limit (66%), during the day (63%), and in fine weather (72%). Drivers wearing any reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk than other drivers. Compared with wearing a black helmet, use of a white helmet was associated with a 24% lower risk. In general, light coloured helmet versus dark coloured helmet was associated with a 19% lower risk. Three quarters of motorcycle riders had their headlight turned on during the day (it's not mandatory in other countries), and this was associated with a 27% lower risk. No association occurred between risk and the frontal colour of drivers' clothing or motorcycle. CONCLUSIONS: Low conspicuity may increase the risk of motorcycle crash related injury. Increasing the use of reflective or fluorescent clothing, white or light coloured helmets, and daytime headlights are simple, cheap interventions that could considerably reduce motorcycle crash related injury and death.
MY TAKE: This was interesting to me because my bike is as gray as asphalt, and so is my helmet :ninja: . I also wear a solid brown leather jacket :errf: . Luckily, we all (or most of us) have mandatory daytime running lights (although my bike has a Euro switch that lets me turn them off, I don't). If you want to be extra safe, add some color to your bike and especially your helmet. Adding some auxillary lights might also be a good idea, although that's not specifically addressed by this study. Also not addressed is the fact that, perhaps, safer riders (i.e., those with better, safer technique) may also be the same individuals who are thoughtful enough to wear reflective and protective gear and not feel self-consciuos while wearing a neon orange vest with yellow reflective tape;) . Anyways, be safe y'all!!!
Part I: A study of motorcycle rider conspicuity (visibility) and crash-related injury.
Link to this study! (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14742349)
This study is from the Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the risk of motorcycle crash related injuries is associated with the conspicuity of the driver or vehicle. DESIGN: Population based case-control study. SETTING: Auckland region of New Zealand from February 1993 to February 1996. PARTICIPANTS: 463 motorcycle drivers (cases) involved in crashes leading to hospital treatment or death; 1233 motorcycle drivers (controls) recruited from randomly selected roadside survey sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimates of relative risk of motorcycle crash-related injury and population attributable risk associated with conspicuity measures, including the use of reflective or fluorescent clothing, headlight operation, and colour of helmet, clothing, and motorcycle. RESULTS: Crash-related injuries occurred mainly in urban zones with 50 km/h speed limit (66%), during the day (63%), and in fine weather (72%). Drivers wearing any reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk than other drivers. Compared with wearing a black helmet, use of a white helmet was associated with a 24% lower risk. In general, light coloured helmet versus dark coloured helmet was associated with a 19% lower risk. Three quarters of motorcycle riders had their headlight turned on during the day (it's not mandatory in other countries), and this was associated with a 27% lower risk. No association occurred between risk and the frontal colour of drivers' clothing or motorcycle. CONCLUSIONS: Low conspicuity may increase the risk of motorcycle crash related injury. Increasing the use of reflective or fluorescent clothing, white or light coloured helmets, and daytime headlights are simple, cheap interventions that could considerably reduce motorcycle crash related injury and death.
MY TAKE: This was interesting to me because my bike is as gray as asphalt, and so is my helmet :ninja: . I also wear a solid brown leather jacket :errf: . Luckily, we all (or most of us) have mandatory daytime running lights (although my bike has a Euro switch that lets me turn them off, I don't). If you want to be extra safe, add some color to your bike and especially your helmet. Adding some auxillary lights might also be a good idea, although that's not specifically addressed by this study. Also not addressed is the fact that, perhaps, safer riders (i.e., those with better, safer technique) may also be the same individuals who are thoughtful enough to wear reflective and protective gear and not feel self-consciuos while wearing a neon orange vest with yellow reflective tape;) . Anyways, be safe y'all!!!