Animal-Related Motorcycle Collisions in North Dakota

ObjectiveTo study the epidemiology and mortality of animal-motorcycle collisions.MethodsA retrospective study of all motorcycle collisions recorded in the North Dakota Department of Transportation Crash Reporting System from January 2007 to December 2009 was conducted. Mortality was designated as the main outcome measure.ResultsSeven hundred sixty-six collisions involving 798 motorcycles were included in this study; 48 of these collisions were with animals (6.3% of all motorcycle collisions). Deer were the most common animal involved (81%). Most animal-motorcycle collisions took place during nighttime with clear weather and on straight rural roads. Drivers were older in animal collisions compared with nonanimal collisions (median of 44 vs 30 years old, respectively, P < .0001). Most drivers were males, whereas most passengers were females. Helmets were worn by only 32% of drivers and 12% of passengers. There were 4 (8%; 95% CI, 3%–20%) fatal animal collisions; 9% of the collisions with large animals were fatal compared with 3% of nonanimal collisions (P = .0411).ConclusionsAnimal-motorcycle collisions are a small subgroup of all motorcycle collisions, but with a high mortality rate. Efforts should be made to increase helmet usage, mitigate these collisions, and increase awareness of this problem among motorcycle riders.