Injured motorcyclists in Sweden: Where do the crashes occur and what factors influence the injury severity?

Abstract

Trends in traffic fatalities show that the development for motorcyclists has fallen behind other road users. It is therefore crucial to improve traffic safety for this road user group. The study analyses where in the road network motorcyclists are injured and whether injury severity differs between parts of the network. Injury severity is also examined in relation to other variables such as age, gender, and motorcycle engine performance (i.e., power-to-weight ratio). The results indicate that motorcyclists, relatively more often than passenger car occupants, are injured on low-volume roads that are not subject to any major safety improvements. It is therefore crucial to also encourage other safety measures targeting rider behaviour and vehicle safety. Moreover, analyses of injury severity indicate that, in multiple-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles, the odds of being killed or severely injured are lower on roads with median barriers (i.e., motorways and 2+1 roads) than on two-lane roads.