When the Motorcycle Safety Foundation announced that it would be initiating its own study into motorcycle accident causation relying on naturalistic methods, Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers were intrigued. That study has now begun.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's study emerged out of the group’s disapproval of another study commissioned by the federal government. That study was to have been conducted by the Oklahoma State University's Oklahoma Transportation Center, and initially was designed to analyze 900 motorcycle accidents. However, due to funding concerns, the number of motorcycle accidents that would be included in the study was soon reduced to 300. At this point, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation withdrew its pledge of funding approximately $3 million for that study.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation study is being assisted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Administration.

The naturalistic study uses strategically positioned, unobtrusive video cameras on motorcycles. The cameras will record motorcyclists’ riding behavior, especially the events that surround an accident. This is real-time data which doesn't get any more authentic. Through these cameras, researchers will be able to pinpoint the causes surrounding the crash, and determine the kind of motorcyclist behavior that contributed to, or prevented a crash. This is the world's first naturalistic study into motorcycle crash causation.

A total of 100 motorcycle riders will be recruited for the MSF 100 Motorcyclist Naturalistic Study. Anonymous motorcyclists have been recruited on the basis of the age and model of the motorcycle. The motorcycles will be equipped with extensive recording equipment, including five video cameras, a GPS receiver, gyro, accelerometers, sensors and trackers. With this equipment, the researchers hope to capture data that is comprehensive and accurate, providing results that could help develop stronger and updated motorcycle accident prevention policies.