Institute of Transportation, MOTC

       In recent years, the situation of Powered two-wheelers (PTWs) accidents in Taiwan is not optimistic. In 2020, about 320,000 PTWs were involved in accidents, 110,000 more than in 2011. In fact, there are differences in the number of accidents and the accident rate of each PTWs type. However, few studies have classified PTWs to explore the differences between them. In addition, the number of registrations of different PTWs type in Taiwan has changed a lot in recent years: a significant increase in large heavy motorcycle, and a significant decrease in light motorbike. It can be speculated that the composition of PTWs type in future will be very different from today. The purpose of this study is to explore the differences in the factors affecting the injury severity of riders in accidents of different type of PTWs, and to make up for the lack of related research in past. By collecting and summarizing the accident data from National Police Agency of 2017 to 2020, the PTWs are typed into large heavy motorcycle, general heavy motorcycle and light motorbike. Multinomial logit model and ordered probit model are used respectively to evaluate the risk factors for the injury severity of the riders. The injury severity from major to minor includes three categories: fatality (within 30 days), injury and no-injury. The estimated results indicate that drunk driving, involving heavy vehicles and speed limit greater than 50 km/h will increase the probability of fatal injuries of regardless of PTWs type; adolescents and holidays will increase the probability of fatal injuries of large heavy motorcycle riders; elderly, without a helmet, without a license and midnight will increase the death risk of general heavy motorcycle and light motorbike riders; single-vehicle accidents and poor sight distance will increase the probability of fatal injuries of both heavy motorcycle riders. This study captures the differences in severity influencing factors among different PTWs types. The analysis results can represent each type more accurately.