Left-turn crashes and motorcycle safety

Teoh, Eric R.
Traffic Injury Prevention (TIP)
June 2023

Abstract
Objective: To provide updated statistics on crashes in which another vehicle turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle and discuss the potential of left-turn-assist technology.
Methods: Motorcycle driver involvements in two-vehicle fatal and police-reported crashes during 2017-2021 were tabulated by crash type, with a focus on crash types involving vehicles turning.
Results: Crashes in which another vehicle turned left in front of an oncoming motorcycle were, by far, the most frequent type of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crash, at 26%.
Conclusion: There is a large opportunity to reduce harm by specifically addressing crashes in which another vehicle turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle — ideally using a variety of countermeasures simultaneously.
Abstract Objective: To provide updated statistics on crashes in which another vehicle turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle and discuss the potential of left-turn-assist technology.
Methods: Motorcycle driver involvements in two-vehicle fatal and police-reported crashes during 2017-2021 were tabulated by crash type, with a focus on crash types involving vehicles turning.
Results: Crashes in which another vehicle turned left in front of an oncoming motorcycle were, by far, the most frequent type of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crash, at 26%.
Conclusion: There is a large opportunity to reduce harm by specifically addressing crashes in which another vehicle turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle — ideally using a variety of countermeasures simultaneously.