City Of Phoenix Motorcycle Crash Study 2018 Review | TEAM Arizona

In this interview with Mike Vellotti from the City of Phoenix, we dive deep into their latest motorcycle crash study. We explore ways to reduce our risk when riding on the City of Phoenix. We find out where and when motorcycle collisions are happening and discuss how to avoid them.

LINKS:
👉https://www.phoenix.gov/streetssite/D...

👉https://www.phoenix.gov/streets/safet...

👉 www.AMSAF.org

👉www.RustyCreedInsurance.com

The study shows that 56% of motorcycle crashes occur mid-block. Which essentially is just a segment of road that is not a signalized intersection or a stop sign controlled intersection. That stretch of road could have front facing homes with driveways, it could possibly have alleyway entrances or exits, but really just a regular type of street. 56% of the time is where these crashes are happening.

We really want to find and identify ways to minimize that risk and that vulnerability and help riders make wise decisions on where they're riding in the road.

Another really vulnerable place that the data showed, 41% of the time that a motorcycle gets hit by a vehicle, the vehicle is making a left hand turn into the motorcycle. This would probably be at an intersection and this would be vehicles failing to yield to a motorcycle as they're riding through an intersection. Lane choice is so important in this, ya gotta be seen when you're riding a motorcycle.

We talk about this in all of our courses, riding in a position so that you can see and be seen. And when you say mid-block, it's not the major intersection, you're actually stating it could very well be a turn point for a vehicle but it is just happening in between the major intersections.

So the study shows that riders are most at risk and statistically motorcycle crashes happen more often on Thursday than any other day of the week. Saturday is a close second and then Friday is third, so really the message of that is pretty obvious. Towards the end of the week riders need to be especially aware of their surroundings.

You also noted a time period for which riders are most at risk in a given day. What time frame was that?

Three PM to 6pm is when most motorcycle crashes occur, which is also when most vehicle crashes occur. That is rush hour and that's when people are in a rush to get home, and that's when people's minds aren't on the road, that's not where they're paying attention and looking for motorcyclists. That's when we as riders have to be even more aware and more cautious.

In our courses, we actually talk to riders about that time frame in specific. There is a crash scenario that we go over in our Basic RiderCourse and it is set at 5 o'clock and it set at that time for a reason.

Well the study showed that March and October are the two months that have the highest amount of motorcycle crashes. It was 66, so it was actually tied for both the months as far as the amount of crashes that we had. Our interpretation of that is that it is probably snowbirds coming into town in October, plus you know it's a perfect time to be riding, the weather is incredible in both October and March. March we know that there is Spring Training games, in the past Bike Week happened in March several years ago so that could be a factor in this particular summary. Those are the two months that we have to be especially aware of our surroundings as we're riding.

We noticed int he summary that a lack of time and space plays a role in vehicle collisions. Can you explain that?

So when a motorcycle is actually hitting a car, 39% of it is when the motorcycle is actually rear ending the vehicle. And that is pretty straight forward. We know why that happens, it is because the motorcycle is giving itself enough distance to brake safely it is following too closely. And we know cars aren't backing into motorcycles, so we know that it's really our responsibility as riders out there to give us enough time and space to maneuver out of a situation if the vehicle up ahead has to brake suddenly.

We also noticed that there was an issue for motorcyclists not having a license or having an expired license or not having insurance. So how can we as motorcyclists be a better part of the motoring community?

Well, yeah, I mean that's an obvious one to me. I mean, we're asking vehicles, you know, cars to share the road with motorcyclists and we need to be responsible and share that road again responsibly and be educated when we're out there.

One of our challenges at TEAM Arizona is to kinda close that gap down which is one of the reasons we offer a fun, safe, convenient way for motorcyclists to get their endorsement and upon successful course completion they can get a discount from most major insurance providers.

TEAM Arizona Motorcyclist Training Centers
36 N. William Dillard Drive
Gilbert, AZ 85233
(480) 998-9888
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