Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC-FHWA)
ITS for Motorcycle Safety
Motorcyclist Advisory Council to the Federal Highway Administration
December 5-6, 2007
What is ITS?
Background
- Motorcycles have not been a significant part of the USDOT ITS Program
- The motorcycle safety problem is increasing.
- A comprehensive scanning study of ITS applications for motorcycle safety was published by Monash University in July 2006 (http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc260.pdf). There is not much else of note in the research literature.
- NTSB Public Forum on Motorcycle Safety, Sept 2006
Motorcycle and Passenger Car Crash Statistics
Fatalities |
Crashes |
Potential ITS Technology Transfer for Motorcycle Safety
- Foundational Technologies
- Vehicle-vehicle and vehicle-infrastructure data communications
- A current major ITS initiative (Vehicle Infrastructure Integration)
- Human-Machine Interfaces (visual or auditory)
- Applications
- Automatic crash notification
- Road weather and condition alerts
- Crash avoidance
- Training and education tools
Foundational Technology: VII
Picture Reference: VSC-A Project Team's 3rd Quarterly Briefing to US DOT, August 28, 2007
Foundational Technology: Smart Helmets or ...
 |
 |
 |
| Wireless audio | Embedded GPS | Head Up Display |
...Head Down Displays
 |
 |
Automatic Crash Notification
Motorcycle applications would most likely require GPS and communications links in helmets
Road Weather and Condition Alerts
ITS Clarus Initiative- Weather information for surface transportation
- National surface weather data collection and reporting using existing network of weather observation systems.
Crash Avoidance Systems
Reference: Evaluation of an Automotive Rear-End Collision Avoidance System (HS 810 569), April 2006, US Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Low Cost Training and Education Tools
- Studies show that low cost simulators can be used successfully for automobile driver education and training
- Used for research driver workload, visual and auditory feedback, and driver impairment factors and effects.
 |
 |
Conclusion
- Motorcycle safety has not received federal ITS research policy direction and funding
- ITS R&D has focused on automobiles, motor carriers and transit vehicles
- Potential technology transfer opportunities presented here have not been formally analyzed by the JPO.
- ACN is the nearest term ITS application since commercial service infrastructure is operational and vehicle/helmet technology components (GPS, wireless communications) are mature.
Contact Info: Linda Dodge, 202-366-8034; linda.dodge@dot.gov
You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDFs on this page.
