Harry Hurt
Encyclopedia
Hugh Harrison Hurt, Jr., (December 13, 1927 – November 29, 2009) was an American researcher on motorcycle safety
. He was the author of the 1981 Hurt Report
, described as "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century."
in West Texas
, and grew up in that community. He was an only child, and his father worked in the banking industry. Hurt graduated from Texas A&M University
in 1950, and was an air transport pilot for the United States Navy
during the Korean War
. He married Joan Beene in 1950, and they had five children, Harry, John, Julie, Vivien, and Vera. He then received a Masters degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Southern California
(USC).
Hurt, self-described as "scooter trash" in his youth, began riding on a Cushman
scooter. He also owned and rode dozens of street and dirt motorcycles including a 1947 Harley-Davidson
61 Knucklehead, a 1968 Triumph Bonneville
, a 1975 Norton Commando
, and a 1979 Triumph Bonneville.
's 1981 Hurt Report
, leading to evidence of the usefulness of motorcycle helmets. The Hurt Report was described by David L. Hough
as "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century."
In 2006, reflecting on the report, Hurt stated "The current problem is older riders, bigger bikes and alcohol."
Hurt died of a heart attack at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
on November 29, 2009, at the age of 81.
Motorcycle safety
Motorcycle safety concerns many aspects of vehicle and equipment design as well as operator skill and training that are unique to motorcycle riding.-Accident rates:...
. He was the author of the 1981 Hurt Report
Hurt Report
The Hurt Report was a motorcycle safety study conducted in the United States, initiated in 1976 and published in 1981. The report is named after its primary author, Professor Harry Hurt.Noted motorcycle journalist David L...
, described as "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century."
Early life
Hurt was born in Big SpringBig Spring, Texas
Big Spring is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Texas, United States, at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 87 and Interstate 20. With a population of 25,233 at the 2000 census, it is the largest city between Midland to the west, Abilene to the east, Lubbock to the north, and San Angelo...
in West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
, and grew up in that community. He was an only child, and his father worked in the banking industry. Hurt graduated from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in 1950, and was an air transport pilot for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He married Joan Beene in 1950, and they had five children, Harry, John, Julie, Vivien, and Vera. He then received a Masters degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC).
Hurt, self-described as "scooter trash" in his youth, began riding on a Cushman
Cushman
Cushman is a manufacturer of industrial vehicles, personal vehicles, and other custom vehicles, including parking patrol auto rickshaws.- Models :* Haulster, small industrial multi-purpose truck.* Truckster* Bellhop Series, golf carts....
scooter. He also owned and rode dozens of street and dirt motorcycles including a 1947 Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
61 Knucklehead, a 1968 Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Bonneville
The Bonneville is a range of British motorcycles, made in three different production runs from 1959 to 1983, and 1985 to 1988, by the now-defunct Triumph Engineering in Meriden; and since 2001, by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley. It is named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, where Triumph and...
, a 1975 Norton Commando
Norton Commando
The Norton Commando is a British motorcycle with an ohv pre-unit parallel twin engine, launched by the Norton Motorcycle company in 1967. Initially a nominal 750 cc displacement, actually , in 1973 it became an 850 cc, actually ....
, and a 1979 Triumph Bonneville.
Hurt Report
After receiving his Masters at USC, Hurt remained as a professor. In 1976-1977, Hurt and his team at USC performed 900 on-scene, in-depth motorcycle crash investigations and compiled data from 3,600 police reports. Investigators later returned to the scene of several hundred crashes they had investigated and tallied passing traffic, photographed 2,310 motorcycles that passed by and interviewed 505 riders. This database of riders exposed to accident risk similar to the accident involved rider allowed a comparison of riders in crashes to those not involved in a crash. This large data collection effort led to the National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
's 1981 Hurt Report
Hurt Report
The Hurt Report was a motorcycle safety study conducted in the United States, initiated in 1976 and published in 1981. The report is named after its primary author, Professor Harry Hurt.Noted motorcycle journalist David L...
, leading to evidence of the usefulness of motorcycle helmets. The Hurt Report was described by David L. Hough
David L. Hough
David L. Hough is an American writer on motorcycle rider safety, education and training.He has been, or currently is a columnist for Motorcycle Consumer News, Sound RIDER! and BMW Owners News magazines, and has several published books...
as "the most comprehensive motorcycle safety study of the 20th century."
In 2006, reflecting on the report, Hurt stated "The current problem is older riders, bigger bikes and alcohol."
Late life
Hurt remained at USC, researching and presiding over the nonprofit Head Protection Research Laboratory (HPRL), as well as a Professor Emeritus of Safety Science at USC. Upon his retirement from USC in 1998 HPRL was spun off as an independent non-profit corporation with Hurt as its president.Hurt died of a heart attack at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is a 446-bed acute care, not-for-profit, teaching hospital in Pomona, California.Founded in 1903, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit facility, the Hospital’s services include Centers of Excellence in oncology,...
on November 29, 2009, at the age of 81.
Awards
- Society of Automotive EngineersSAE InternationalSAE International is an organization for engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. The Society is a standards development organization for the engineering of powered vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and others.SAE...
, Outstanding Presentation Award, 1977, for "Human Factors in Motorcycle Accidents" - Motorcycle Industry CouncilMotorcycle Industry CouncilThe Motorcycle Industry Council, or MIC, is a not-for-profit, national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV parts and accessories and members of allied trades, located in Irvine, California...
, Key Award, 1989 - Motorcyclist magazineMotorcyclist (magazine)Motorcyclist is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. The magazine is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is published by Source Interlink Media. The current Editor in Chief, Brian Catterson, was formerly Executive Editor at rival Cycle World....
, Motorcyclist of the Decade, 1989 - National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators, Chairpersons Award, 1997
- Motorcycle Hall of FameMotorcycle Hall of FameThe Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
, 2007