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. 2013 Mar;103(3):568-71.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300827. Epub 2013 Jan 17.

Risks of high-powered motorcycles among younger adults

Jonathan J Rolison  1 , Paul J Hewson, Elizabeth Hellier, Laura Hurst
Affiliations

Risks of high-powered motorcycles among younger adults

Jonathan J Rolison et al. Am J Public Health. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: We assessed whether policies designed to safeguard young motorcyclists would be effective given shifts in ownership toward high-powered motorcycles.

Methods: We investigated population-wide motor vehicle driver and motorcyclist casualties (excluding passengers) recorded in Britain between 2002 and 2009. To adjust for exposure and measure individual risk, we used the estimated number of trips of motorcyclists and drivers, which had been collected as part of a national travel survey.

Results: Motorcyclists were 76 times more likely to be killed than were drivers for every trip. Older motorcyclist age-strongly linked to experience, skill set, and riding behavior-did not abate the risks of high-powered motorcycles. Older motorcyclists made more trips on high-powered motorcycles.

Conclusions: Tighter engine size restrictions would help reduce the use of high-powered motorcycles. Policymakers should introduce health warnings on the risks of high-powered motorcycles and the benefits of safety equipment.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Fatal and nonfatal casualty rates for (a) drivers and (b) motorcyclists: United Kingdom, 2002–2009.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Number of driver and motorcyclist fatalities as a proportion of all casualties: United Kingdom, 2002–2009.
FIGURE 3—
FIGURE 3—
Motorcyclist fatalities (a) per 100 million trips and (b) in the population: United Kingdom, 2002–2009.
FIGURE 4—
FIGURE 4—
Average number of motorcycle trips made in the population: United Kingdom, 2002–2009.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Rolison et al. respond.
    Rolison JJ, Hewson PJ, Hellier E. Rolison JJ, et al. Am J Public Health. 2013 Jul;103(7):e2. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301346. Epub 2013 May 16. Am J Public Health. 2013. PMID: 23678908 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Motorcycle engine capacity may not underlie increased risks.
    Haworth N, Blackman R. Haworth N, et al. Am J Public Health. 2013 Jul;103(7):e1-2. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301340. Epub 2013 May 16. Am J Public Health. 2013. PMID: 23678909 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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