Abstract The effect of antilock braking systems (ABS) on motorcyclist fatal crash risk during 2003-08 was studied by comparing fatal crash rates per registrations of motorcycles with and without ABS. Study motorcycles included those for which ABS was optional equipment and could be identified as present by the vehicle identification number. Fatal motorcycle crashes per 10,000 registered vehicle years were 37 percent lower for ABS models than for their non-ABS versions. Keywords: Motorcycles; Crashes; Antilock braking system; Combined braking systems; Wheel lock; Insurance claims 1. Introduction Annual motorcyclist deaths in the United States have more than doubled, from 2,077 in 1997 to 5,091 in 2008 (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2009), and motorcycle registrations have increased by about two-thirds, from 5,174,326 in 2000 (earliest year for which data are available) to 9,850,301 in 2008, according to data obtained from R.L. Polk and Company. Many factors contribute to motorcycle crashes, but improper braking was identified as a major pre-impact factor in a study of motorcycle crash causation (Hurt et al., 1981) and again, 20 years later, in the Motorcycle Accident In-Depth Study (MAIDS) (Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers, 2004). Operating the brakes on most motorcycles is much more complicated than on four-wheel vehicles. Most motorcycles have separate controls for the front and rear brakes, with the front brake usually controlled by a lever on the right handlebar and the rear brake controlled by a pedal operated by the rider’s right foot. During braking, a rider must decide how much force to apply to each control. As with other types of vehicles, much more deceleration can be obtained from braking the front wheel than from braking the rear wheel. Motorcycles are inherently less stable than four-wheel vehicles and rely on riders’ skills to remain upright during demanding maneuvers such as hard braking. Braking too hard and locking a wheel creates an unstable situation. Locking the front wheel is particularly dangerous, with falling down being almost certain. A locked rear wheel is more controllable but still can lead to loss of control
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