Accident involvement and exposure by type of motorcycle

The first part compared the risk of accident involvement (accidents in 1984, 1985 and 1986) by novice riders (learners and first year licence holders) on 250 cc Japanese motorcycles of differing engine power and torque, using ownership of registered motorcycles (in 1987) as the measure for exposure to accidents. 250cc motorcycles with 2-stroke engines and/or horsepower greater than 35 PS units were found to be over involved in accidents. The second part gives the relative distance travelled by riders on motorcycles with differing engine capacity. It is based on self reported data with only a 30% response rate. It showed that full licence holders travel further and more often than inexperienced motorcycle riders. The weekly average ranged from 93 km per person for full licence holders on motorcycles with engine capacity 501-1000cc to 32.7 km per person for learners and probationary licence holders on motorcycles with engine capacity less than 250ccs. Further research is needed, however, to determine the criteria on which to legislate, which would provide the optimum benefit in terms of safety, public understanding and acceptance, and ease of enforcement (A).