Research Methodology

• "Motorcycles: Common International Methodology for On-Scene, In-Depth Accident Investigation" manuscript preparation for the Technical Expert Group of the Coordinating Group for Motorcycle Accident Investigations, of the Road Transport Programme of the Directorate of Science and Technology and Industry, of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD/DSTI/RTR/RS9/TEG) This extremely comprehensive document is expected to evolve as an International Standards Organization (ISO) standard in the near future. This work has been in progress by HPRL staff since 1997 and continues to the evolution and improvement of the methodology in accident reconstruction and accident data collection.
  
  
• National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety (NAMS) committee was active in the collection and reporting of factual materials to recommend action for future motorcycle safety activities in the USA, sponsored jointly by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). HRPL staff and advisers participate in NAMS committee activities to develop a report to the public for action in motorcycle accident and injury prevention. Ideally the NAMS final report will provide guidelines for DOT's Motorcycle Safety Improvement Plan (MSIP).
  
  
• Motorcycle Accident Investigation Methodology Survey is being conducted by HPRL technical staff. The object is to collect and analyze the individual practices of recognized international experts in motorcycle accident reconstruction, then integrate the contemporary standards of practice into the international methodology of the OECD "Common International Methodology." There is a wide variety of methods used in the reconstruction of motorcycle accidents, including complex replication by crash tests and computer based simulations as well as elementary applications of physics with exemplar vehicles. There is success with all of these methods depending on the complexity of the collision and the need for precision in the reconstruction of accident events, but a standardized methodology is needed for application to research needs.
  
  
• Motorcycle Transportation Public Safety Studies of the Motorcycle and Moped Committee of the National Research Council, Transportation Research Board. Mr. David Thom is Chairman of the TRB Motorcycle and Moped Committee, and brings the current activities in the field of accident analysis and prevention to the national forum.
  
  
• Motorcycle Alcohol Countermeasures Research, as a partner with the well known Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), HPRL staff members have studied the persisting problem of alcohol involvement in motorcycle accidents. Under NHTSA contract, PIRE and HPRL staff have developed the foundations of data collection to study the problem and evaluate strategies for alcohol involvement in motorcycle accidents and related countermeasures development.