Abstract
A significant proportion of serious injury motorcycle crashes in Victoria occur in off-road areas. To help inform future research and safety strategies, an online survey of adult off-road motorcyclists was conducted. The most prevalent age groups were in the range 40-54 years, and 70 percent reported at least 10 years off-road riding experience. The most popular riding areas were single track or natural terrain, followed by double track or unsealed roads. While 70 percent of riders agreed that off-road riding is a risky activity, 85% agreed that “I put safety first”. Wearing rates of helmets, gloves, goggles/visor and boots were all high, but rates were lower for other types of protective gear and lower overall for riders aged under 20. Eight percent of riders reported a serious injury crash in the past 3 years, with half of these occurring on a double track or unsealed road.
Background
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users in Australia and internationally. While fewer motorcyclist fatalities occur in off-road than on-road areas in Victoria, it has been estimated that between one third and one half of all motorcycle serious injuries occur in off-road areas (VAGO 2011, VISU 2020). However, very little is known about the characteristics of off-road riders, their riding exposure, patterns and factors that contribute to serious injury crashes. To this end, a survey of off-road riders in Victoria was undertaken to improve our understanding of these factors.
Method
Over 1,500 Victorian motorcyclists aged 16 years or over who had ridden off-road in the past 3 years completed an online survey during 2021. Three quarters were recruited via Facebook and 10% by email invitation via riding groups or clubs. Survey questions included rider demographics, off-road riding experience and patterns, safety related attitudes, injury crashes, and protective clothing use.
Results
Rider demographics
Over three quarters of participating riders were aged 30 years or older (Figure 1), and 95 percent were male. Over 80 percent had a full motorcycle license and about half indicated at least 20 years off-road experience. Over half of riders resided in a major city (Table 1).
Location and types of riding
The most prevalent areas ridden (at least most of the time) were single track or natural terrain in state forests or parks (55%), followed by double track or unsealed roads in state forests or parks (50%), farms (11%), private property (8%), motocross tracks or dedicated venues (7%), and public land in residential areas (5%). Over 80% indicated most of their off-road riding was in a group.
Protective clothing use
Wearing rates were high for helmets (99%), gloves (95%), boots (92%) and goggles/visor (86%). Other protective clothing had lower wearing rates of between 43% (roost guards) and 57% (shoulder/elbow armour). Riders aged 16-19 had the lowest rates of protective clothing use.
Attitudes to risk and safety
While over 70 percent of riders agreed that “off-road motorcycling is a risky activity”, over 85 percent agreed with the statement “I put safety first”.
Injury crashes
Sixty percent of participants were injured while riding off-road in the past 3 years. Forty three percent indicated their highest level of injury was minor, while 9% reported at least one moderate injury (attended hospital for up to 1 day), and 8% reported at least one serious injury (attended hospital for more than 1 day). Half of all serious injury crashes occurred while riding on a double track or unsealed road in a state forest or park, while 18% occurred on a single track or natural terrain.
Conclusions
There is a paucity of research regarding off-road motorcyclist exposure, risk and safety. Survey findings showed that off-road riders were generally older, male, very experienced, rode in groups, and that protective clothing use was less amongst younger riders. A high proportion had sustained an injury while riding, and the most prevalent riding area for those seriously injured was on a double track or unsealed road in a state forest or park. This is the first survey of its kind in Victoria and represents and important, early step to developing injury prevention countermeasures for off-road riders.
Acknowledgments
The survey was part of a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS, Victoria) funded project aimed at developing a new off-road motorcycle safety campaign, following a request from the Coroners Court of Victoria. We are grateful for input provided by the DHHS off-road motorcycle reference group members during survey development, and all off-road rider participants.
References
TAC (2020). Motorcycle crash data. Transport Accident Commission (Victoria)
VISU (2020). Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VEMD) 2009-2019. Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit.
VAGO (2011). Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Programs. Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/report/motorcycle-and-scooter-safety-programs?section=
Background
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users in Australia and internationally. While fewer motorcyclist fatalities occur in off-road than on-road areas in Victoria, it has been estimated that between one third and one half of all motorcycle serious injuries occur in off-road areas (VAGO 2011, VISU 2020). However, very little is known about the characteristics of off-road riders, their riding exposure, patterns and factors that contribute to serious injury crashes. To this end, a survey of off-road riders in Victoria was undertaken to improve our understanding of these factors.
Method
Over 1,500 Victorian motorcyclists aged 16 years or over who had ridden off-road in the past 3 years completed an online survey during 2021. Three quarters were recruited via Facebook and 10% by email invitation via riding groups or clubs. Survey questions included rider demographics, off-road riding experience and patterns, safety related attitudes, injury crashes, and protective clothing use.
Results
Rider demographics
Over three quarters of participating riders were aged 30 years or older (Figure 1), and 95 percent were male. Over 80 percent had a full motorcycle license and about half indicated at least 20 years off-road experience. Over half of riders resided in a major city (Table 1).
Location and types of riding
The most prevalent areas ridden (at least most of the time) were single track or natural terrain in state forests or parks (55%), followed by double track or unsealed roads in state forests or parks (50%), farms (11%), private property (8%), motocross tracks or dedicated venues (7%), and public land in residential areas (5%). Over 80% indicated most of their off-road riding was in a group.
Protective clothing use
Wearing rates were high for helmets (99%), gloves (95%), boots (92%) and goggles/visor (86%). Other protective clothing had lower wearing rates of between 43% (roost guards) and 57% (shoulder/elbow armour). Riders aged 16-19 had the lowest rates of protective clothing use.
Attitudes to risk and safety
While over 70 percent of riders agreed that “off-road motorcycling is a risky activity”, over 85 percent agreed with the statement “I put safety first”.
Injury crashes
Sixty percent of participants were injured while riding off-road in the past 3 years. Forty three percent indicated their highest level of injury was minor, while 9% reported at least one moderate injury (attended hospital for up to 1 day), and 8% reported at least one serious injury (attended hospital for more than 1 day). Half of all serious injury crashes occurred while riding on a double track or unsealed road in a state forest or park, while 18% occurred on a single track or natural terrain.
Conclusions
There is a paucity of research regarding off-road motorcyclist exposure, risk and safety. Survey findings showed that off-road riders were generally older, male, very experienced, rode in groups, and that protective clothing use was less amongst younger riders. A high proportion had sustained an injury while riding, and the most prevalent riding area for those seriously injured was on a double track or unsealed road in a state forest or park. This is the first survey of its kind in Victoria and represents and important, early step to developing injury prevention countermeasures for off-road riders.
Acknowledgments
The survey was part of a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS, Victoria) funded project aimed at developing a new off-road motorcycle safety campaign, following a request from the Coroners Court of Victoria. We are grateful for input provided by the DHHS off-road motorcycle reference group members during survey development, and all off-road rider participants.
References
TAC (2020). Motorcycle crash data. Transport Accident Commission (Victoria)
VISU (2020). Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VEMD) 2009-2019. Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit.
VAGO (2011). Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Programs. Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/report/motorcycle-and-scooter-safety-programs?section=
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 28 Sept 2022 |
Event | Australasian Road Safety Conference 2022 - Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand Duration: 28 Sept 2022 → 30 Sept 2022 https://acrs.org.au/event/2022-australasian-road-safety-conference/ |
Conference
Conference | Australasian Road Safety Conference 2022 |
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Abbreviated title | ARSC 2022 |
Country/Territory | New Zealand |
City | Christchurch |
Period | 28/09/22 → 30/09/22 |
Internet address |