VOLUME I , ISSUE IV


Blue Knights Utah IV/ Summer Quarter 2010


PAGE 9 Editor’s note: Each forthcoming issue of the Blue Knights Utah IV Newsletter will feature ongoing por-


tions of the Hurt Report for the benefit of its members, along with editorial comment in red, where appropri- ate, in the hope that each of us might gain insight into making their ride a safer one.


The Hurt Report Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures T


he Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, is a study conducted by the University of Southern California (USC). With funds from the National Highway


Traffic Safety Administration, researcher Harry Hurt investigated almost every aspect of 900 motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, Hurt and his staff analyzed 3,600 motorcycle traffic acci- dent reports in the same geographic area. Reprinted here for your information and use are the findings.


Findings Throughout the accident and exposure data there are special observations which relate to accident and injury causation and characteristics of the motorcycle accidents studied. These findings are summarized as follows:


6. In multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.


7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until it was too late to avoid the colli- sion.


8. Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is a rare accident cause.


9. The most frequent accident configuration is where the motorcycle is proceeding straight and the auto- mobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.


10. Intersections are the most likely places for a motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.


get to really heap the harass- ment on when you find they have drugs in the car, they’re drunk, or have an outstanding warrant on file.”


“RUNNERS: Some people


take off running just at the sight of a police officer. Nothing is quite as satisfying as running after them like a beagle on the scent of a bunny. When you catch them you can harass them for hours.”


“STATUTES: When we don't


have phones or cars and have nothing better to do, there are


actually books that give us ideas for reasons to harass folks. They are called Statutes; Criminal Codes, Motor Vehicle Codes, etc. They all spell out all sorts of things for which you can really mess with people.”


“After you read the statute,


you can just drive around for awhile until you find someone violating one of these listed of- fenses and harass them. Just last week I saw a guy trying to steal a car. Well, there's this book we have that says that's not allowed. That meant I got per-


mission to harass this guy. It’s a really cool system that we have set up, and it works pretty well.”


“We seem to have a never-


ending supply of folks to harass. And we get away with it. Why? Because for the good citizens who pay the tab, we try to keep the streets safe for them, and they pay us to ‘harass’ some people. Next time you are in my town, give me the old single finger wave. That's another one of those codes. It means, ‘You can harass me.’ It's one of our favorites.”


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