Abstract:
In the event of an accident, a motorcycle rider is directly and fully exposed to violent impact or
collision. Therefore, motorcyclists are more at risk of being killed or injured in a road traffic
accident than any other type of vehicle user. In Bangladesh Motorcycle is one of the most
vulnerable motor vehicle and has a higher fatality rate per unit of distance traveled when
compared with automobiles. The statistics indicates that motorcycle accident and fatality risk is
very concerning in Bangladesh than other countries with very high motorcycle occupancy rate.
Analysis shows that during 5 years from 2008-2012, the percentage of motorcycle related
accident and casualties maintains an increasing trend and on average its share in all accident and
casualties is 14% and 8% respectively. Under these circumstances the current study has been
attempted to conduct detailed analysis with a view to identify distinct features of motorcycle
related accident and injury in Bangladesh, Dhaka city in particular. The study aims to identify
injury patterns among hospitalized motorcyclists, analyze motorcyclist’s driving behavior and to
explore characteristics of accident. The previous studies mainly focuses motorcycle traffic trend
analysis, motorcycle traffic volume and travel behavior. No study on casualty’s injury in
motorcycle accident has been found to be carried out previously in our country. This research
may be the first attempt in this regard. For identifying distinctive features of motorcycle related
accident and injury, motorcycle accident data have been analyzed in MAAP5 software. The
accident data needed for analysis has been collected from Accident Research Institute (ARI),
BUET.
To identify the injury pattern, characterize driving behavior and analyze the situation during
accident a questionnaire survey has been conducted among at least 100 patients who are admitted
to hospital as a result of motorcycle accident. They have been asked a series of questions about
their riding habits and the type of accident in which they were involved and a series of questions
about their motorcycles. The result shows that about half of total injury is in the right leg and
more than one-fifth is in left leg. The probable cause of such leg injury may be due to the fact
that motorcyclists are mainly involved in side-swipe and head-on accidents in which the legs are
rubbed between vehicles or motorcycles and road. One preventive measure to protect the legs
and feet might be to use Leg Guard.
