Bikesafe Scotland is a multi-agency initiative aimed at reducing the number and severity of collisions involving motorcyclists in Scotland. The main component is the Police Assessed Ride programme. This programme offers free on-the-road assessments of motorcycling skills from trained police motorcyclists to all holders of a full motorcycling licence in Scotland. In 2001 there were 1174 motorcycle casualties in Scotland which is the highest number since 1992. Older motorcyclists (>30 years of age) account for an increasing proportion of casualties. The proportion of accidents in non-built up areas is increasing. Programme participants were generally male and 35-54 years of age, 29% were recently qualified motorcyclists and a fifth had returned to motorcycling after a break of a year or more. Almost all participants found the course very or fairly useful and would recommend it to others; however some participants considered the assessed ride to be too short. Although the programme had improved relations between the police and motorcyclists, lack of resources was seen as a major problem. After taking the programme, there was an improvement in the proportion of participants who never or rarely braked too rapidly on a slippery road or nearly lost control on bends. Defensive riding was also successfully promoted by the programme. Some riders may have increased their speed outside built up areas as a result of the course. It is suggested that the course should be modified to take more account of motorcyclists' attitudes. The possibility of encouraging the motocycle industry to promote or support Bikesafe Scotland is discussed.
Samenvatting