title: Glancing and Stopping Behavior of Motorcyclists and Car Drivers at Intersections.
abstract: For the past decade, motorcycle fatalities have risen while other motor vehicle fatalities have declined. Many motorcycle fatalities occurred within intersections after a driver failed to see a motorcyclist. However, little is known about the behavior of motorcyclists when they negotiate an intersection. A study was undertaken to compare the behavior at intersections of an experienced group of motorcyclists when they were operating a motorcycle with their behavior when they were driving a car. Each participant navigated a course through low-volume, open roads. Participants wore eye-tracking equipment to record eye-glance information, and the motorcycle and car were instrumented with an onboard accelerometer and Global Positioning System apparatus. Results showed that participants were more likely to make last glances toward the direction of the most threatening traffic before they made a turn when they were driving a car than when they were riding a motorcycle. In addition, motorcyclists were less likely to come to a complete stop at a stop sign than car drivers. These results suggested that motorcyclists were exposing themselves to unnecessary risk. Specifically, motorcyclists frequently failed to make proper glances and practice optimal riding techniques. The behavior of the motorcyclists was compared with the current Motorcycle Safety Foundation curriculum. The results suggested that threat-response and delayed-apex techniques should be added to the training curriculum.
authors.affiliation: J. W. Muttart and D. L. Fisher, Arbelle Insurance Human Performance Laboratory, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 160 Governors Drive, Amherst, MA 01002. L. R. Peck, SD Lyons, Inc., 1898 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771. S. Guderian, Motorcycle Safety Consulting, 1237 Poplar Drive, Oakley, CA 94561. W. Bartlett, Mechanical Forensics Engineering Services, LLC, 179 Cross Road, Rochester, NH 03867. L. P. Ton, Crash Safety Solutions, LLC, 2240 Spruce Street, Apartment A, Boulder, CO 80302. C. Kauderer, Kauderer and Associates, 3308 EI Camino Avenue, Suite 300-444, Sacramento, CA 95821. J. E. Manning, Collision Dynamics, LLC, 6101 South Rural Road, Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85283.
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Muttart
authors.forename: Louis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guderian
authors.forename: Wade
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: Lisa P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ton
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kauderer
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manning