Novice riders and the predictors of riding without motorcycle protective clothing

Abstract

Background

While helmet usage is often mandated, few motorcycle and scooter riders make full use of protection for the rest of the body. Little is known about the factors associated with riders’ usage or non-usage of protective clothing.

Methods

Novice riders were surveyed prior to their provisional licence test in NSW, Australia. Questions related to usage and beliefs about protective clothing, riding experience and exposure, risk taking and demographic details. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to identify factors associated with two measures of usage, comparing those who sometimes vs rarely/never rode unprotected and who usually wore non-motorcycle pants vs motorcycle pants.

Results

Ninety-four percent of eligible riders participated and usable data was obtained from 66% (n = 776). Factors significantly associated with riding unprotected were: youth (17–25 years) (RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.50–2.65), not seeking protective clothing information (RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.07–1.56), non-usage in hot weather (RR = 3.01, 95% CI: 2.38–3.82), awareness of social pressure to wear more protection (RR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.12–1.95), scepticism about protective benefits (RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.22–3.28) and riding a scooter vs any type of motorcycle. A similar cluster of factors including youth (RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04–1.32), social pressure (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16–1.50), hot weather (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.19–1.41) and scooter vs motorcycles were also associated with wearing non-motorcycle pants. There was no evidence of an association between use of protective clothing and other indicators of risk taking behaviour.

Conclusions

Factors strongly associated with non-use of protective clothing include not having sought information about protective clothing and not believing in its injury reduction value. Interventions to increase use may therefore need to focus on development of credible information sources about crash risk and the benefits of protective clothing. Further work is required to develop motorcycle protective clothing suitable for hot climates.

Introduction

Motorcycle and scooter riders have a high risk of injury in crashes and represent an increasing number of road traffic casualties around the world (WHO, 2004). The protective value of helmets in motorcycle crashes is well established (Liu et al., 2008, Mertz and Weiss, 2008, Moskal et al., 2008) and usage is mandated in many countries (WHO, 2009). Research has also shown that injuries to the rest of the body may be reduced or prevented by motorcycle protective clothing (Feldkamp and Junghanns, 1976, Zettas et al., 1979, Hurt et al., 1981, Schuller et al., 1986, Otte and Middelhauve, 1987, Hell and Lob, 1993, ACEM, 2004). Standards have been established in Europe specifying the performance required of motorcycle gloves, boots, jackets and pants to reduce injuries under crash conditions (CEC, 1989).

In Australia and New Zealand helmet usage is mandatory for all riders, but it is apparent that many riders do not make use of other forms of protective clothing and are least likely to protect their legs compared to other parts of the body (Reeder et al., 1996, de Rome, 2006, Watson et al., 2008). Similar findings of lower levels of protection for the legs have also been reported in Europe (ACEM, 2004) and the USA (Hurt et al., 1981). The lack of protection for the legs is of particular concern as the legs are the part of the body most likely to be injured in a crash (Lin and Kraus, 2009).

A number of factors have been found to be associated with usage of protective clothing. These include journey purpose (de Rome, 2006, Watson et al., 2008), type of motorcycle ridden and membership of motorcycle clubs (de Rome and Stanford, 2006) and having taken motorcycle training courses (Satten, 1980, Mortimer, 1984, Rothe and Cooper, 1987). The non-usage of helmets is commonly associated with risk taking behaviours such as excessive speed, alcohol and unlicensed riding (Lin et al., 2003, Chen, 2006, Brown et al., 2009, Haworth et al., 2009). Whereas there is evidence of an association between non-usage of protective clothing and unlicensed riding (Reeder et al., 1996), there is little evidence as to whether it is also associated with risk taking behaviour by licensed riders.

The little information that is available about factors associated with usage of protective clothing is largely derived from survey and observational studies that are not representative of the rider populations. In New South Wales (NSW) the rider licensing process includes 2 compulsory training courses. Applicants for a learner rider license must pass a two-day learn-to-ride course including a session on protective clothing. After a minimum of three months on their learner license, they must pass a second course including an on-road ride and operational test to obtain an intermediate (provisional) riders’ license (RTA, 2009).

While it is difficult to obtain a representative sample of experienced riders, the second course provided an opportunity to survey a representative sample of novice riders with at least three months riding experience. The aim was to identifying the factors associated with riders’ usage of protective clothing. Specific aims were to examine the factors associated with riding: (A) with any part of the body unprotected (e.g. short sleeves) and (B) without optimal protection for the legs (i.e., wearing ordinary long pants (e.g. jeans) rather than motorcycle protective pants).