Background: In March 2000, an annual 10-day motorcycle event was held that news reports suggested was the deadliest ever and brought an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 participants to a city of 64,000 residents. We investigated the frequency, disposition, and risk factors for injuries during the event.
Methods: Abstracted data from all motorcycle crashes were linked from medical examiner, hospital, EMS, and police sources in the county for Bike Weeks 2000 and 1999.
Results: During Bike Week 2000, 570 people were involved in 281 motorcycle-related crashes; 230 (40%) were injured. Eleven (5%) died, 72 (31%) were hospitalized, and 147 (64%) sought treatment in emergency departments. Most were white (96%), middle-aged (71%), male (77%), motorcycle drivers (72%). In motorcycle crashes with a passenger vehicle, motorcycle occupants were 8.7 times more likely to be injured than passenger vehicle occupants (95% CL 1.7,15.7). In Bike Week 1999, the motorcycle-related injury rate per 10,000 population was 3.7 (estimated 450,000 participants). In Bike Week 2000, this rate ranged from 3.8 (assuming 600,000 participants) to 4.6 (assuming 500,000 participants). Accordingly, the rate ratio between the two events ranged from 1.0 (95% CL 0.9,1.2) to 1.2 (95% CL 1.1,1.4). Key known risk factors (alcohol, speed, helmet use) were substantially underreported and could not be analyzed.
Conclusions: Although fatalities first called attention to the problem, non-fatal injuries outnumbered deaths 20-fold. Because such large-scale events recur often, better field reports of risk factors are vital for prevention efforts, and accurate methods of crowd estimates are needed for surveillance.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Injury, Motor Vehicles
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.