Bikesafe Scotland is a multi-agency initiative aimed at reducing the number and severity of crashes involving motorcyclists in Scotland.

It was launched in 2000, and, to date, its main component has been the Police Assessed Ride programme. The Assessed Ride programme offers free on-the-road assessments of motorcycling skills from trained police motorcyclists to all holders of a full motorcycling licence in Scotland.

The research consisted of five main components.

First, desk-based analysis of accident statistics was carried out in order to present a picture of motorcycle accidents in Scotland.

Second, a self-completion before-and-after survey was carried out with people who took part in the Bikesafe Scotland Assessed Ride programme between mid-June and late-September 2002.

Third, a separate self-completion questionnaire was sent to people who took part in assessed rides in 2001.

Fourth, in-depth telephone interviews were carried out with representatives from the organisations involved in running Bikesafe Scotland.

Finally, in-depth phone interviews were carried out with stakeholders from the motorcycle industry.