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I came across an interesting article in The Week magazine, December 18, 2009 issue. The following information was derived from that article. I believe it is pertinent to motorcycle safety and worthy of all motorcyclists’ attention. Here’s a reiteration of its content.

Hugh “Harry” Hurt, Jr. was a safety engineer at the University of Southern California (USC) during 1981. He is famous for having conducted a groundbreaking study that involved the investigation of 900 motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area. The study pioneered the field of motorcycle crash research. Its findings doubtless contributed to saving numerous lives.

Mr. Hurt was also an avid motorcyclist. Harry’s first bike was actually a Cushman scooter; later he graduated to a heavyweight ‘47 Harley Davidson.

He studied vehicle safety as a graduate student at USC. His studies helped him and his team in his later effort of motorcycle crash research for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1981. As a grad student, Harry contributed to the development of a motorcycle crash helmet that is still used as a model today.

His study, called the Hurt Report, resulted in 55 major findings. The most important being the following:
- Motorcyclists need more training, especially in skid control.
- Auto drivers didn’t see motorcyclists in time to react.
- Most accidents occurred when auto drivers made a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
- Helmets for both drivers and passengers greatly reduced head injuries.

Harry Hurt’s efforts resulted in motorcycle safety programs and laws that reduced accidents and head injuries. Mandatory helmet laws were one of the results.

Hugh “Harry” Hurt, Jr. was a skillful and lucky biker. He never had a motorcycle accident. He was born in 1927 and died of a heart attack in 2009.