Improving Safety for Motorcycle, Scooter and Moped Riders

Abstract

The global fleet of powered two-wheelers (PTWs) is constantly increasing. In many countries, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds play a significant role in mobility, particularly in many of the world's large cities. As such, PTWs are becoming an important component of the transport system. However, they represent an important challenge for road safety. PTW riders are at far more risk than car drivers per kilometre ridden in terms of fatalities and severe injuries entailing long-term disability. Moreover, they have not benefited from safety improvements at the same pace as car occupants over recent decades. Addressing the issue of PTW safety is thus an essential contribution to the success of the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims at halving the expected number of road deaths worldwide by 2020. This report reviews recent trends in powered two-wheeler crashes, the factors contributing to these crashes and their severity. It describes a set of countermeasures targeting user behaviours, the use of protective equipment, the vehicles and the infrastructure. Finally, it discusses motorcycle safety strategies in the context of a safe system

Investigating on-road crash risk and traffic offences in Vietnam using the motorcycle rider behaviour questionnaire (MRBQ)

“…Similarly, the Vietnamese who borrows a motorcycle has a significantly higher near-crash rate on the road compared to those who own a motorcycle. This finding is in line with the results previously published (Haworth et al, 1994;Reeder et al, 1995;ITF, 2015).…”

“…Surprisingly, Vietnamese motorists without a riding licence have lower crash/near-crash rates than licensed riders. There is a different tendency in other studies, where unlicensed riders are more likely to violate traffic regulations and to be involved in accidents (Curry et al, 2015;Kraus et al, 1991;ITF, 2015). We assume that unlicensed Vietnamese motorists may be more cautious while riding because they are concerned about being penalized by the traffic police and recognize their additional risks due to a lack of road safety knowledge.…”

“…The National Traffic Safety Committee of Vietnam also reported that aberrant riding behaviours such as speeding and unsafe overtaking/lane-shifting accounted for more than 60% of all road fatalities in this country (Tuan, 2015). An understanding of riding behaviours among motorcyclists has become a prerequisite when trying to identify the causes of motorcycling accidents (Hung & Huyen, 2011;ITF, 2015).…”

A trial to allow motorcycles on bus lanes in Tel-Aviv: an assessment of mobility and safety impacts

“…Motorcycles or powered two-wheelers (PTWs) constitute an important part in transportation systems of many countries (Haworth, 2012;IMMA, 2014;ITF, 2015). Motorcycles are a personal travel mode, providing mobility freedom and flexibility in densely populated areas.…”

Emergency braking performance of motorcycle riders: skill identification in a real-life perception-action task designed for training purposes

“…Riders need realworld conditions to become fully skilled. Nevertheless, in most cases training and license tests are carried out in unrealistic and predictable environments (Aupetit, Riff, Buttelli, & Espié, 2013), relying on exercises that artificially separate control skill actions and hazard perception, not sufficient to assess the ability to ride safely in traffic (OECD/ITF, 2015). The challenge, then, is to develop the training tasks that will enable novice riders to accelerate their mastery of the skills required in crash scenarios (Collins, Mulvihill, & Symmons, 2012).…”