Motorcycle-crash fatalities in the United States have been increasing since 1997, when the total number of fatalities reached a record low. Motorcycle training programs have been enacted before this rise and many studies have aimed to show their effectiveness. Research to date has not overwhelmingly supported either the notion that training is effective or ineffective. No standards for evaluation exist; studies vary greatly in the methods used for comparison and the consequences of training that are investigated. Moreover, the samples of people used in studies are subject to a self-selection bias, as training is not mandatory in areas where many of the studies were completed. This literature review aims to look at the effectiveness of motorcycle education courses and different licensing procedures. Theeffectiveness of programs is examined through the effect training has on accident rates, violation rates, and personal protective equipment usage found through past research. Some studies demonstrated that accident and traffic violation rates are lower for trained riders than untrained riders, while others demonstrated that they are higher for trained riders. Training increases the use of personal protective equipment amongst motorcyclists. Motorcycle licensing procedures have also shown to have different effects on accident rates. Lower accident rates have been observed in areas withstricter regulations for obtaining a license.
Abstract