Could wearing motorcycle protective clothing compromise rider safety in hot weather?

Unlabelled: Motorcycle protective clothing (PPE) effectively reduces the risk of injury in crashes, however in hot conditions many motorcyclists ride unprotected. Recent work found available motorcycle PPE to be thermally inefficient in hot weather with potential to cause significant thermal strain under average Australian summer conditions. The current study investigated the potential for the cognitive and psychophysical concomitants of thermal strain to compromise reaction times, mood and fatigue with potential consequences for motorcyclists' safety.

Near-miss crashes and other predictors of motorcycle crashes: Findings from a population-based survey.

Objective: Crash and injury surveillance studies have identified a range of rider-related factors, including age, sex, licensure, training and experience, as being associated with motorcycle crash risk. The aim of this study was to establish whether these previously identified factors were associated with crash involvement in an Australian-based population.

Methods: Data obtained from motorcyclists recruited from road authority licensing offices in a population-based survey design were analyzed.

Validation of the abrasion resistance test protocols and performance criteria of EN13595: The probability of soft tissue injury to motorcycle riders by abrasion resistance of their clothing.

Introduction: Motorcyclists represent an increasing proportion of road users globally and are increasingly represented in crash statistics. Soft tissue injuries are the most common type of injuries to crashed motorcyclists. These injuries can be prevented through the use of protective clothing designed for motorcycle use.

Energy attenuation performance of impact protection worn by motorcyclists in real-world crashes.

Objective: Laboratory studies have demonstrated that impact protectors (IP) used in motorcycle clothing can reduce fracture severities. While crash studies have reported IP are associated with reduced likelihood of soft tissue injury, there is little evidence of their effectiveness in reducing fracture likelihood. This discrepancy might be related to IP quality.

The prevalence of crash risk factors in a population-based study of motorcycle riders.

Introduction: Motorcyclists represent an increasing proportion of road traffic casualties but, while factors associated with crashes are readily identifiable, little is known about the prevalence of those risk factors in the motorcycling population.

Method: A stratified random-sampling frame was used to survey the population of registered motorcycles owners in New South Wales (NSW) when they attended motor registry offices. The postal codes in the State database of registered motorcycle were used to stratify the population into quartiles based on socioeconomic characteristics and to determine sample weights.

Does an on-road motorcycle coaching program reduce crashes in novice riders? A randomised control trial.

Objectives: Motorcycle riding is increasing globally and confers a high risk of crash-related injury and death. There is community demand for investment in rider training programs but no high-quality evidence about its effectiveness in preventing crashes. This randomised trial of an on-road rider coaching program aimed to determine its effectiveness in reducing crashes in novice motorcycle riders.

Thermal and cardiovascular strain imposed by motorcycle protective clothing under Australian summer conditions.

Motorcycle protective clothing can be uncomfortably hot during summer, and this experiment was designed to evaluate the physiological significance of that burden. Twelve males participated in four, 90-min trials (cycling 30 W) across three environments (25, 30, 35 °C [all 40% relative humidity]). Clothing was modified between full and minimal injury protection.

Detailed analysis of pedestrian casualty collisions in Victoria, Australia.

Objective: Pedestrian road trauma is significant in Australia and requires in-depth understanding to improve or inform new countermeasures. Analyses on single data sources can be limited. This study investigated demographic, behavioral, environmental, and collision characteristics of pedestrian injury in Victoria, Australia, over a 5-year period using multiple data sources.

Cyclists' clothing and reduced risk of injury in crashes.

Introduction: A majority of cyclists' hospital presentations involve relatively minor soft tissue injuries. This study investigated the role of clothing in reducing the risk of cyclists' injuries in crashes.

Methods: Adult cyclists were recruited and interviewed through hospital emergency departments in the Australian Capital Territory.

Validation of the principles of injury risk zones for motorcycle protective clothing.

Introduction: The distributions of motorcycle crash impacts and injuries were compared to the four impact risk zones and protective performance specified in the European Standard for motorcycle clothing (EN 13595).

Methods: Crashed motorcyclists' (n=117) injuries and clothing damage were categorized by body area into the four risk zones. Three levels of protection were defined: protective clothing with impact protection, protective clothing only and non-protective clothing.

Distribution and type of crash damage to motorcyclists' clothing: validation of the zone approach in the European Standard for motorcycle protective clothing, EN13595.

Objective: Though the use of protective clothing reduces the risk of injury for motorcycle riders, not all protective clothing performs the same in crashes. A European Standard for motorcycle protective clothing (EN13595) was released in 2002 that specifies 4 zones in motorcycle clothing with different levels of protective qualities and 4 different test methods for assessing damage resistance. This project examined damage location and type in clothing worn by riders following a crash to establish the distribution of impact points and validate the zones described in EN13595.

The use of self-report exposure measures among novice motorcyclists: appropriateness and best practice recommendations.

Objectives: While self-report methods to collect exposure information have large practical advantages in many research contexts, little research has specifically investigated the reliability and validity of motorcyclists' self-reported exposure. The present study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of different self-report exposure measures and to provide recommendations on best practice self-report riding exposure questions.

Methods: The reliability and validity of different self-report exposure measures were examined amongst novice motorcyclists through t-tests, Bland Altman plots, coefficients of variation, and correlations.

Bicycle crashes in different riding environments in the Australian capital territory.

Introduction: Cyclists are increasingly overrepresented in traffic crash casualties in Australia. There is evidence that better cycling infrastructure increases participation, but whether it reduces the numbers of injured cyclists is less clear. This study examined injury outcomes of crashes in different cycling environments.

Single- versus multi-vehicle bicycle road crashes in Victoria, Australia.

The aim of the study is to compare trends, circumstances and outcomes of single- versus multi-vehicle bicycle on-road crashes in Victoria, Australia, through the analysis of police records and hospital admissions between January 2004 and December 2008. The results show that over 80% of on-road single-vehicle bicycle crashes occurred as a result of the cyclist losing control of the bicycle with the remainder involving collisions with objects. Compared with multi-vehicle crashes, single-vehicle crashes were more likely to occur in the dark, in wet conditions and in rural areas.

Risk factors for severe injury in cyclists involved in traffic crashes in Victoria, Australia.

This study examines the impact of cyclist, road and crash characteristics on the injury severity of cyclists involved in traffic crashes reported to the police in Victoria, Australia between 2004 and 2008. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of severe injury (serious injury and fatality) in cyclist crashes reported to the police. There were 6432 cyclist crashes reported to the police in Victoria between 2004 and 2008 with 2181 (33.

Motorcycle protective clothing: protection from injury or just the weather?

Background: Apart from helmets, little is known about the effectiveness of motorcycle protective clothing in reducing injuries in crashes. The study aimed to quantify the association between usage of motorcycle clothing and injury in crashes.

Methods And Findings: Cross-sectional analytic study.

Cycling crashes in children, adolescents, and adults--a comparative analysis.

Objective: To compare rates, circumstances, and outcomes of cyclist crashes between children (aged 0-9 years), adolescents (aged 10-19 years), and adults (aged 20 years and over) in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of cyclist crashes in police records and the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset during the period 2004-2008.

Results: Adolescent cyclists had the highest rates, per 100 000 people, of police-reported (32.

Novice riders and the predictors of riding without motorcycle protective clothing.

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.