Motorcyclists – 286 Deaths in Seven Years

The BC Coroners Service investigates and records “all unnatural, sudden and unexpected deaths in the province” and is thereby positioned to identify trends and risk factors in these types of deaths and, in consultation, to appropriately direct recommendations for preventative measures.

In late 2008, the Coroners Service, concerned about the number of motorcycle crash fatalities in BC—286 fatalities from 2000 to 2007—established a “Death Review Panel” to study these statistics, to comprehensively analyze six of the cases, and to study local and foreign legislation and the most current research on safe motorcycle operation. The 10-person panel including representatives from ICBC, the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles, the police, the BC and Canada Safety Counsels, and motorcycle industry and riders groups made nine recommendations for preventing “loss of life under similar circumstances.”

The panel identified two categories of risk factors, and a need for more and better information gathering. The first set of risk factors “specifically related to motorcycle operators,” and the second related to “other vehicle operators on the roadways.” The nine recommendations, available online on the Coroners Service website: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/ are directed to the BC Solicitor General, the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles, ICBC, and the Coroners Service. They call for amendments to the BC Motor Vehicle Act, amendments to the motorcycle licensing program, changes to the evaluation of motorcycle driver training schools, and an investigative protocol for motor vehicle fatalities that includes a “section specific to motorcycles…to collect better data for statistical analysis.”

The recommended amendments to the law address three ‘risk factors’ for motorcycle operators by proposing helmets with a mandatory basic certification from safety standard associations, mandatory eye protection, and by restricting all “mobile communications and entertainment devices to a single earpiece usage” while motorcycling.

The recommendations to ICBC focus on:

a graduated (class six) licensing program for all new riders whether or not they hold a class five license,
longer learners permits,
more stringent conditions for new riders with seven years or less road use experience,
redefining the role and accountability of ‘supervisors’
a zero blood alcohol content for all new riders while riding, and
restricting the power of the motorcycle a rider can operate based on the power of the motorcycle on which the rider was originally road tested.

ICBC is also advised to increase awareness at the learner’s stage of licensing and during motorcycle awareness month around the “best practice of full coverage riding gear.” As for the risk factors related to other vehicle operators, ICBC is advised to expand the class five training process to improve awareness of motorcycle riders and other vulnerable road users by providing information about their decreased visibility and problems assessing their traveling speed.

The Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles has recently (March 2010) reported on the actions it has taken on the recommendations. It also identifies law enforcement as a key element of improving motorcycle safety and recommends more highly visible and appropriately sized motorcycle license plates.

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