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The following is an excerpt from Interview With Harry Hurt by David L. Hough:
quote:
The "Hurt Report"
Think back to 1979. There had been a big motorcycle buying boom in the 70s, and a lot of those new riders managed to get involved in accidents. That big rise in accidents and fatalities got the attention of the U.S. Department Of Transportation, and they decided to get into the act to protect us from ourselves. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration let a big contract to study motorcycle accidents, and the University of Southern California Traffic Safety Center got the job. The USC professor responsible for carrying it out was Hugh H. ("Harry") Hurt, Jr. The Objectives of the study were to determine the causes of motorcycle accidents, analyze the effectiveness of protective gear such as safety helmets, and then figure out what countermeasures might help prevent accidents or reduce injuries.
Hurt put together a team of investigators who would dash out to every motorcycle accident scene, day or night, over two years. One of the important concepts was that all of the investigators were experienced motorcyclists. The team did an exhausting study of each accident, determining approximately 1,000 data elements. They took photos, examined the wreckage, measured the skid marks, and interviewed the survivors. They even returned to the same site at the same time on the same day of the week, with the same weather conditions, to measure traffic and interview motorcyclists who managed to get through the same situation without having a problem. The team collected data on more than 900 motorcycle accidents, interviewed 2,310 passing motorcyclists, and studied 3,600 police reports from the same area.
Then they studied the data from every angle for another two years, and published the final report in January 1981. The title was a little cumbersome: "Volume I: Technical Report, Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, January, 1981 - Final Report" The motorcycle press found that title a little too techno-wacky, so they nicknamed it the "Hurt Report", after Harry Hurt. The "Hurt Report" turned out to be the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century.
I think the year 1979 as the start of the study period is incorrect. Two years on data gathering and another two years on studying them don't add up to the publication of the study in January, 1981. A Brief History of Motorcycling has the following information:
quote:
... 1973 - MSF created 1976 - Harry Hurt begins study of motorcycle crashes at USC with NHTSA funding 1977 - NHTSA funds rear-wheel-steering motorcycle project 1978 - Stock motorcycles run quarter-mile in less than 12 seconds 1980 - U.S. traffic fatalities peak: motorcycle occupants�5,144; passenger car occupants�27,449 1980 - First International Motorcycle Safety Conference sponsored by MSF 1981 - Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, (referred to as the Hurt Report) released ...
The MSF's own article 25th Year of Celebration! Motorcycle Safety Foundation has the following in the section entitled A Look at the First 25 Years:
quote:
1981 Motorcycle registrations: 5,618,336
Students trained: 43,327
Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of
Countermeasures (Hurt Study) released.
Chief Instructor Guide released.
Experienced RiderCourse (ERC) replaces Better Biking
Another article authored by a Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified RiderCourse Instructor has the following:
quote:
Scientific studies have been completed on the subjects of motorcycle operation and motorcycle accident report data. For example:
- The Photographic Analysis of Motorcycle Operator Control Responses, performed by the National Public Services Research Institute.
- Motorcycle Task Analysis, performed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
- Braking Methods Research, by the National Public Services Research Institute and Northern Illinois University.
- Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, completed at The University of Southern California by Dr. Harry Hurt (commonly referred to as "The Hurt Report".
It seems to me, beyond reasonable doubt, MSF was involved in the inception of the study which resulted in the Hurt Report (Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures).
One thing I have found peculiar about the Hurt Report (more precisely the summary of its findings of which you can find a copy at numerous websites) is its rather conspicuous agreement with what MSF has been promoting:
The following is from the summary of the Hurt Report:
quote:
24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents. 28. Motorcycle riders in these accidents showed significant collision avoidance problems. Most riders would overbrake and skid the rear wheel, and underbrake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration. The ability to countersteer and swerve was essentially absent. 35. Motorcycle riders in these accidents were significantly without motorcycle license, without any license, or with license revoked.
It is clear to me now why. The study was probably done to prove the validity of MSF's existence and to promote the effectiveness of its rider classes (and countersteering). At least, whether the study was biased or not is a legitimate question to ask.