Pick Up A Copy Here!

Contributor's Info

Subscribe

Contact Us

Previous Issues

Home

Crash Science

Crash Science is about the science behind motorcycling. This section describes Crash Science articles from previous issues. If you would like to order the magazine in which an article appeared, please fill out the subscription form by checking the "Back Issue" box and indicating the appropriate month.

---

May 2010 Pedestrians—Unpredictable Hazards

Let's look at a typical downtown scenario (Figure 1). A motorcyclist is riding on a three-lane, one-way street, surrounded by automobiles and trucks in adjoining lanes. Traffic is fairly heavily congested. On one side of the street, roughly mid-block, a pedestrian is intending to cross. After what finally seems like the last car has passed in front of him, the pedestrian darts into the street, right in front of the oncoming motorcyclist (Figure 2). The rider has little to no warning of the impending collision, and barely has time to brake before she and her bike impact the pedestrian. As a result of the collision, the pedestrian suffers critical blunt-force trauma (due to impact by the combined mass of bike and rider and the stiffness of the mostly metal bike), while the rider is thrown from her bike, impacts the pavement, and slides to a stop within the lanes of traffic…

April 2010 How to Avoid A Red Light-Running Car

As a motorcyclist who lives and works in a congested, big-city urban core, I am inherently familiar with red light-running autos, and unfortunately, encounter them on a regular basis. Let's look at this very common traffic condition, representative of many busy downtown intersections. In our example, a motorcyclist, whose light is currently red, is approaching the intersection in his direction of travel, anticipating that his light will soon turn green. As he approaches his limit line, he gradually slows down, just in case he needs to stop before his light changes. At the same time, he's keeping an eye on the lights for cross-traffic, trying to time his entry into the intersection so as to cruise through without having to stop…

March 2010 Obstructed Line of Sight

One of the major perils for riders negotiating urban traffic is the potential for numerous obstructions and reduced visibility. Because of the high density of construction, urban streets are generally not as wide and clear as they are in suburban settings. In addition, the streets tend to be of incapable of accommodating all the vehicles that traverse them—whether driving, stopping, or parking. Therefore, it is quite common to have a situation where an intersection has the potential to bring traffic into a conflict situation because the visibility of oncoming traffic is significantly reduced…

February 2010 Maintain A High Visual Horizon

In a congested urban environment, we are faced with conditions that we normally don't encounter on the highway or the open road: stop-and-go traffic, short blocks, slow speeds, traffic lights and signals, and large public transportation vehicles (e.g., buses, trains, and trolleys). Put all that together and the result is a chaotic pattern that gives rise to numerous potential conflict scenarios. Add to that the subjective factors (such as driver irritation, impatience, and road rage), and we find that the urban environment is one of the most hazardous places in which a motorcyclist can be…

January 2010 Left-turn Larry

When it comes to urban riding, I've noticed an interesting attitude among most riders. Because the average speed in urban environments is lower than on the freeway or other higher-speed roads, a lot of riders assume that urban riding is 'safer' or 'easier' and that therefore it's not necessary to maintain the required level of awareness. All too often that translates into not being prepared for the multitude of hazards that await us in the congested traffic and busy streets of downtown…

December 2009 The Unsuspecting Right-Turning Motorcyclist

As a motorcyclist who lives (and works) in a congested, big-city, urban core, I am faced with a variety of hazardous situations on a daily basis. Over the years, I have attempted to observe and keep track of the different situations in which an urban rider can find himself. While most of us are inherently familiar with the risks of high-speed freeway riding, canyon carving, or encounters with animals on open roads, we may all too often take for granted the 'lower speed' urban environment and therefore not be prepared for the multitude (and uniqueness) of hazards that await us in the congested traffic and on the busy streets. For this reason, over the next several issues of Crash Science, I will cover some of the more hazardous urban crash scenarios that await motorcyclists…

---

Copyright © 2010 - Friction Zone