Industry and rider views of ITS for safer motorcycling.

VicRoads has identified vehicle-based intelligent transport systems (ITS) as a possible method of reducing the number and severity of motorcycle crashes. The ITS considered in this paper include intelligent speed adaptation (ISA), automatic crash notification (ACN) and advanced braking systems, which include anti-lock braking systems (ABS), linked braking systems and emergency brake assist (EBA). VicRoads engaged ARRB Group (ARRB) to investigate the feasibility of implementing these technologies, and the likelihood that these technologies would be accepted within the motorcycling community. Interviews were conducted with nine motorcycling safety experts and eight rider focus groups were conducted. All ITS systems investigated were expected to have positive impacts on motorcycle safety by the expert group. Riders were generally more sceptical. While they recognised that ACN would have safety benefits for a small number of riders, they were not convinced that ISA would have safety benefits and were divided over whether advanced braking systems would have safety benefits or not. Rider opinion about advanced braking systems was not based on practical experience with the systems, very few riders actually having ridden motorcycles with any of these features. Riders thought that whether or not advanced braking systems appeared to be good value for money depended on the value of the motorcycle. Barriers to the uptake of ITS safety technologies are discussed, and actions to advance the case for safety-related ITS, are discussed. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E217099.