The project aimed to develop a better understanding of the patterns of riding and risk factors associated with older motorcyclists and to recommend measures that may reduce the crash involvement of these riders. The number and percentage of riders in crashes aged 30 and over doubled from 1991-2000. Despite this increase, the crash involvement rate of licence holders aged 30 and over is lower than that of younger licence holders and it decreases with age. Riders aged 30 and over were involved in relatively more rural crashes and more single vehicle crashes (even in the metropolitan area). They were also over-involved in crashes in medium and high speed zones, consistent with a pattern of open-road riding, rather than commuting. Returned and continuing riders could not be distinguished in the crash data, but new riders were identified as those with learner or probationary licenses. As for any road user group, the crash involvement of motorcycle licence holders over the age of30 may be reduced by measures that reduce total distance travelled and by measures that reduce the risk per unit of distance travelled, including general motorcycle safety measures. (Author/publisher)
Abstract