Organisation: Loughborough University (Transport Safety Research Centre)
Date uploaded: 6th September 2012
Date published/launched: February 2011
This report utilises the On The Spot (OTS) database to look at the types of injury sustained by UK powered two wheeler riders and the use of personal protective equipment and its effectiveness.
Of PTW crashes in the study sample, 68% occurred in a 30 and 40mph zone. Most crashes occurred while the PTW was travelling along a straight road and impacted a car. Most riders were male but mopeds showed the highest proportion of female riders (19%). Mopeds were also ridden by the youngest riders (57% under 20 years old). Road bikes were ridden by the oldest riders (47% were 40+ years old).
Safety helmets were almost universally used but only around half of all riders worse protective motorcycle clothing. Most moped riders wore no protective clothing whatsoever. The use or non-use of protective clothing showed no major effect on the distribution of injury severity in this study sample. To clarify this further, it is recommended that a future study be carried out with non-injured riders because when protection works to the extent that no injury is sustained, such crashes with no injury are not reported to the police.
For more information contact:
Dr Richard Frampton