Motorcyclist conspicuity-related accidents in urban areas: a speed problem ?

We examine the hypothesis that, in motorcyclist conspicuity-related accidents in urban areas, the low conspicuity of this category of road users often works in combination with the motorcyclist's high driving speed. The in-depth analysis and the kinematic reconstruction of 22 cases of urban accidents involving a motorcyclist and another road user show that the motorcyclist’s speed is significantly higher for motorcyclist conspicuity-related cases, in comparison with other cases. This conclusion, which remains to be consolidated using a larger number of cases, suggests that speed management in urban areas could be a highly interesting possibility for helping to reduce accidents of this type.