Environmental Factors Associated with Severe Motorcycle Crash Injury in University Neighborhoods: A Multicenter Study in Taiwan

Abstract

University neighborhoods in Taiwan have high-volume traffic, which may increase motorcyclists’ risk of injury. However, few studies have analyzed the environmental factors affecting motorcycle crash injury severity in university neighborhoods. In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we explored the factors that increase the severity of such injuries, especially among young adults. We retrospectively connected hospital data to the Police Traffic Accident Dataset. Areas within 500 m of a university were considered university neighborhoods. We analyzed 4751 patients, including 513 with severe injury (injury severity score ≥ 8). Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex, age ≥ 45 years, drunk driving, early morning driving, flashing signals, and single-motorcycle crashes were risk factors for severe injury. Among patients aged 18–24 years, female sex, late-night and afternoon driving, and flashing signals were risk factors. Adverse weather did not increase the risk. Time to hospital was a protective factor, reflecting the effectiveness of urban emergency medical services. Lifestyle habits among young adults, such as drunk driving incidents and afternoon and late-night driving, were also explored. We discovered that understanding chaotic traffic in the early morning, flashing signals at the intersections, and roadside obstacles is key for mitigating injury severity from motorcycle crashes in university neighborhoods.

Crash Severity Analysis of Young Adult Motorcyclists: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Local Roadways

“…Ijaz et al [5] found that the use of a standard helmet was significantly more effective in reducing the likelihood of death. YAMs who crashed while drunk had a lower chance of death, which is not entirely consistent with Lin et al [15], who found that drunk driving is a significant risk factor for severe motorcycle crash 55.2% 58.0% 32.1% Wearing a helmet was not significant in the model, which is intriguing given the findings of previous research. In most cases, wearing a helmet reduces the chances of death for motorcyclists [36].…”

“…Studies aiming to identify policies for reducing crash severity primarily employ the Logit Model Analysis method, which differentiates between the alternative outcomes: fatal and non-fatal crashes [14]. Currently, the Logit model has evolved to incorporate a more complex principle of random parameters, an analysis premised on the assumption that various factors may impact differing crash severity levels by examining parameter variance [15]. This is logical, as even though motorcycles may operate in the same area, crash severity levels can vary.…”

“…Nighttime driving, which includes crashes with and without lights, can lead to higher severity. Clearer roads at night may encourage higher speeds, while low visibility can make it difficult to see warning signs or parked vehicles on the road shoulder, increasing the risk of severe crashes compared to daytime driving [15].…”

Bivariate-Logit-Based Severity Analysis for Motorcycle Crashes in Texas, 2017–2021

“…A study from Taiwan focused on junior college students observed that motorcycle crash risk decreased with increasing age, experience, and the licensing of drivers [34]. Another Taiwan-based study that analyzed motorcycle crashes in a university neighborhood using multivariate analysis concluded that female gender, rider age over 45 years, driving under the influence of alcohol, single-motorcycle crashes, and early-morning driving increased the likelihood of severe injury [35]. Male motorcyclists were far more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol compared to female motorcyclists, as observed in a Thailand-based study analyzing 969 randomly sampled collisions [36].…”

Effect of Traffic Lights Countdown Timer and Motorcycle Lanes as an Approach to the Red Box for Motorcycles in Bali Island

“…The behavior of motorcyclists is categorized as aggressive, normal, and dangerous [25]. Aggressive behavior on motorbikes is often done by young adults [26,27]. Motorcycles will flock to the front of signalized intersections; as a result, many motorcycles will depart together within a very short time once the traffic signal turns green.…”