MAIDS report

Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study (MAIDS)
Non-profit organization
Industry motorcycle accident research
Founded 1999
Headquarters Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée 1 – 1040 Brussels
Area served
 European Union
Key people
 Nick Rogers - IMMA – MAIDS Management Group (MMG) chairman
€2.5 million
Parent Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM)
Website http://www.maids-study.eu

The MAIDS (Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study) report is a large-scale, comprehensive study of Powered Two Wheelers (PTW, i.e., motorcycles, scooters and mopeds) accidents carried out across five European countries, using both accident and exposure (or control) cases, as was done in the Hurt Report, and following the standards of OECD.[1] Starting in September, 1999, over 2000 variables were coded in each of 921 accidents, and exposure data was collected on an additional 923 cases, collected at five locations in France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Italy. The investigation was carried out under the auspices of the The Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) with the support of the European Commission [2][3]

Using EC terminology, mopeds are referred to as L1 vehicles, and motorcycles and scooters of 50cc or over are called L3 vehicles.[4]

The main findings of the report are (quoted verbatim):[5]

  • There were 103 cases involving a fatality of either the rider or the passenger.
  • L1 vehicles were over-represented in the accident sample when compared with the exposure sample.
  • More L1 vehicles were involved in accidents which took place in an urban area than L3 vehicles. (85.9% v. 62%).
  • 54.3% of the PTW accidents took place at an intersection.
  • Passenger cars were the most frequent collision partner (60%).
  • 72% of the accidents took place in urban areas.
  • A PTW was more likely to collide with a passenger car in an urban area than in a rural area. (64.1% v. 46.7%).
  • Due to the absence of comparable exposure data, it was not possible to determine if any month, day of the week or time of the day was a risk factor.

Notes

  1. ↑ Carpenter, Susan (2007-07-11), "A fresh look at bike safety: With more riders on the road, experts plan a new study on the causes of motorcycle accidents.", Los Angeles Times; Throttle Jockey, The Hurt and MAIDS reports both used methods pioneered by the Hurt Study. The new study will use that same methodology, now known as 'OECD.' In it, independent investigators are dispatched to motorcycle accidents in real time, so they can collect on-scene, in-depth data. About 2,000 variables are coded for each crash, including a full reconstruction of the accident, plus vehicle inspections, witness interviews and medical records for the injured riders and passengers. That information is then analyzed -- to identify what human, environmental and vehicle factors contributed to the accident -- and compared with two riders of similar age, experience and motorcycle type who were not involved in an accident but who traveled the same stretch of road at the same time of day.
  2. ↑ Carpenter, Susan (2009-03-01), "U.S. motorcycle crash study stalls: MAIDS 2.0 may have to suffice", Los Angeles Times Blogs; Up To Speed The latest autos news, tips and trends., Filling the void is MAIDS 2.0. An update of the Motorcycle Accident In-Depth Study conducted in five European countries a decade ago, MAIDS 2.0 is a drilling-down of the data for the 921 crashes included in that report, specifically the 100 crashes that resulted in death -- 25 of which occurred on bikes under 50 cc and 75 of which happened on motorcycles 50 cc and larger.
  3. ↑ "Executive Summary", Maids -- In-Depth Investigation of Motorcycle Accidents, The Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), 2009
  4. ↑ "Glossary", Maids -- In-Depth Investigation of Motorcycle Accidents, The Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), 2009
  5. ↑ "Main findings of the MAIDS report on accident characteristics", Maids -- In-Depth Investigation of Motorcycle Accidents, The Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), 2009

External links