An important growth in motorcycle traffic has occurred during the last decades in most parts of the world, the result of which being that powered two-wheelers (PTWs) have gradually become a true mobility tool that attract an increasingly vast and varied population. But a side effect of such an evolution refers to road safety. As a matter of fact, most epidemiological studies show the overall excess risk facing PTW in the traffic system, this risk coming notably from the extreme vulnerability of PTW riders in case of a crash and relying on some specific accident patterns. Faced with this negative aspect of riding a motorcycle or a scooter, it is essential to thoroughly understand the risks that riders meet when moving in traffic and more specifically in the urban environment where they particularly develop. The present paper has the purpose of identifying the production processes that characterise PTW traffic crashes occurring in town in comparison with those produced in the countryside. The data relies on a detailed analysis of a sample of 1000 accident police records. The results put emphasis on the difficulties confronting PTW users when on the road or in the street and to analyse the repercussions of these difficulties in terms of critical situations that are met by riders. A better knowledge of the specificities and the mechanisms of PTW involvement in injury traffic accidents is viewed as offering a potential improvement in their safety through adapted urban road development.

The powered two-wheelers (PTWs; moped, motorcycles and scooters) have long been considered as a marginal population, but they developed significantly these last decades in most parts of the world, necessitating a new view concerning them. This is particularly the case in urban areas where their use has increased, notably linked to the possibility they offer to escape the problems of traffic congestion, which attracts an increasingly vast and varied population. In addition, PTWs can also be a good compromise to face in inner-city parking problems. As such, the motorized two wheelers are considered by certain authors as an essential contribution to the urban traffic of tomorrow. However, this view is currently contradicted by the poor level of safety linked to the integration of such vehicles within traffic. As a matter of fact, most epidemiological studies show the overall excess risk to which PTWs are confronted in the traffic system, this risk coming notably from the extreme vulnerability of PTW riders in case of a crash, and relying on some specific accident patterns. This negative effect must be neutralized for PTW to become a true urban mobility tool. The purpose of the present paper is to identify the causes and mechanisms of PTW traffic crashes occurred in town, notably comparing them with those produced in countryside areas. The data rely on a detailed analysis of a sample of 1308 accident police records. The results put emphasis on the difficulties met by PTW users on the road or in the street, and also the difficulties met by car drivers confronted to them. A better knowledge of the specificities and the mechanisms of PTW involvement in injury accidents is viewed as offering a potential improvement of their safety through an adapted urban infrastructure development.

Observations on a methodology transfer for qualitative road accident analysis obtained from French Detailed Accident Studies (DAS) to Colombian road accidents proceduresNearly 90% of the traffic accidents that occur worldwide happen in emerging countries. And yet road safety remains a little-studied subject in these countries, and notably accidentology studies which provide a wealth of information. One of the major problems in studying road accidents in emerging countries lies in the absence or lack of reliable accident data. Indeed, while the comprehensive accident analysis methodologies used in developed countries provide an understanding of the origin of accidents and accident processes, as well as making it possible to define suitable, effective actions, they require reliable and relatively detailed accident data. These methodologies are notably based on detailed accident studies (DASs) and their adaptation to the analysis of accident reports. Colombia has an infrastructure for gathering and storing traffic accident data that can be used to perform comprehensive accident analyses. This article defines the feasibility context for a technology transfer (clinical accident analysis) to the Colombian equivalent of accident reports. These observations are part of a doctoral thesis prepared jointly between the IFSTTAR Accident Mechanisms Research Unit and the University of the Andes in Bogota.