A Comparison of Crash Factors between Georgia and the Southern District
Disciplines
Civil and Environmental Engineering | Transportation Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Motorcycle crashes are particularly hazardous for those involved because of the lack of protection and high exposure. Between 2015 and 2020, there were 4,161 motorcycle crash fatalities in the Southern District (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia). 609 motorcycle crash fatalities occurred in Georgia. 84 were among youth, making Georgia the third-highest state in the Southern District in motorcycle crashes and the second-highest in terms of youth fatalities. The purpose of this research is to compare the factors contributing to these crashes in Georgia with those in other Southern District states. This paper relied on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census that collects data from fatal crashes nationwide each year. Several factors are considered, including the crash classification, the time of the crash, the BAC levels of the drivers, collision type, and lighting factors. The analysis also considered motorcyclist laws for each state. Despite having many laws and requirements for motorcyclists in Georgia, it presented higher numbers of crashes over the legal BAC level, more collisions with moving vehicles, and more late-night crashes. It is crucial to consider these factors and recognize their impact on the safety of Georgia's youth and the overall safety of residents of Georgia and the Southern District.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Sunanda Dissanayake
A Comparison of Crash Factors between Georgia and the Southern District
Motorcycle crashes are particularly hazardous for those involved because of the lack of protection and high exposure. Between 2015 and 2020, there were 4,161 motorcycle crash fatalities in the Southern District (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia). 609 motorcycle crash fatalities occurred in Georgia. 84 were among youth, making Georgia the third-highest state in the Southern District in motorcycle crashes and the second-highest in terms of youth fatalities. The purpose of this research is to compare the factors contributing to these crashes in Georgia with those in other Southern District states. This paper relied on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census that collects data from fatal crashes nationwide each year. Several factors are considered, including the crash classification, the time of the crash, the BAC levels of the drivers, collision type, and lighting factors. The analysis also considered motorcyclist laws for each state. Despite having many laws and requirements for motorcyclists in Georgia, it presented higher numbers of crashes over the legal BAC level, more collisions with moving vehicles, and more late-night crashes. It is crucial to consider these factors and recognize their impact on the safety of Georgia's youth and the overall safety of residents of Georgia and the Southern District.