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Citation
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Allen T, McClure RJ, Newstead ST, Lenné MG, Hillard P, Symmons M, Day L. Traffic Injury Prev. 2016; 17(8): 870-877. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the nature and extent of current powered two-wheeler (PTW) risk exposures in order to support future efforts to improve safety for this mode of transport.
METHODS: A cross sectional analysis of the control arm of a population based case control study was conducted. The control sample was selected from 204 sites on public roads within 150 km of the city of Melbourne that were locations of recent serious injury motorcycle crashes. Traffic observations and measurements at each site were sampled for a mean of 2 hours on the same type-of-day (weekday, Saturday or Sunday) and within 1 hour of the crash time. Photographs of passing riders during this observation period recorded data relating to characteristics of PTWs, age of riders, travel speed of PTWs and all vehicles, time gaps between vehicles, visibility and protective clothing use.
RESULTS: Motorcycles and scooters represented 0.6% of all traffic (compared with 4% of all vehicle registrations). Riders were significantly more likely to have larger time gaps in-front and behind when compared to other vehicles. The average travel speed of motorcycles was not significantly different than the traffic, but a significantly greater proportion were exceeding the speed limit when compared to other vehicles (6% vs 3%, respectively). The age of registered owners of passing motorcycles was 42 yrs. Over half of riders were wearing dark clothing with no fluorescent or reflective surfaces. One-third of motorcyclists had maximum coverage of motorcycle specific protective clothing.
CONCLUSIONS: A very low prevalence of motorcyclists combined with higher rates of larger time gaps around motorcycles (cf. other vehicles) may help explain their over-representation in injury crashes where another vehicle fails to give way. An increased risk of injury in the event of a crash exists for a small but greater proportion of motorcyclists (cf. other vehicles) who were exceeding the speed limit. An apparent shift towards older age of the active rider population may be reducing injury crash risk relative to exposure time. There is significant scope to improve the physical conspicuity of motorcyclists and the frequency of motorcycle specific protective clothing use. These results can be used to inform policy development and monitor progress of current and future road safety initiatives.
Language: en |