Rider Licensing, Training and Testing
In accordance with the Haddon matrix related to motorcycle safety, countermeasures associated with licensing and training may reduce crash involvement however they may also reduce the severity of crashes by addressing the problem of lack of experience (including lack of recent experience). Meeting this later aim is likely achieved through the implementation and enforcement of road safety measures. Particular countermeasures may apply to certain subgroups of an economy who are at a greater risk for crash involvement. For example, this might include age restrictions to increase exposure in safer conditions.
Graduated Licensing Systems (GLS)
- Age restrictions
- Restrictions on carriage of pillion passengers for novice riders
- Supervised riding for novices
- Minimum and recorded hours of learner riding
- Engine capacity restrictions and power-to-weight restrictions for novice riders
- Speed limit restrictions for novice riders
- Requirements to display learner status (L/P plates)
- Lower BAC limits for novice riders
- Time of day restrictions for novices
Rider training
- Content of training
- Hazard perception training for motorcyclists
- Duration of training programs
- When training should occur
Rider testing
- Knowledge tests
- Practical tests
- Hazard perception tests
Licensing, training & testing conclusions
Rider licensing systems are one of several measures designed to prevent motorcycle crashes. Licensing systems vary between jurisdictions, although can include some restrictions and special requirements for beginning riders. The licensing system can bring about reductions in the number and severity of crashes by reducing the amount of the activity being undertaken (often termed exposure reduction) or by ensuring that the activity is undertaken more safely (often termed risk reduction). There has been very little evaluation of the effectiveness of licensing systems for motorcyclists.
Testing is a near universal requirement but there are substantial differences between jurisdictions in the required minimum age of candidate, conditions for issuing a licence, subject matter of testing, practical execution of testing and in the conditions for re-testing. Most motorcycle practical tests are administered off-road, often in a very small area. Thus, their ability to measure vehicle control skills at realistic speeds is limited, particularly for those in which most riding is done at greater speeds. For others, a potential limitation is in negotiating traffic.
Elliot et al (2003, p.60) summarise the reasons for the lack of effectiveness of current motorcycle training programs as follows:
- 'A relative lack of attention to higher order cognitive skills including those associated with hazard anticipation, recognition and assessment.
- A tendency to improve confidence rather than improve self-assessment of limitations
- Difficulties in dealing with attitudes and motivations, especially in light of research findings that motives associated with sensation seeking are for some riders, an intrinsic part of motorcycling.'
In terms of best practice in training:
- Compulsory training appears better than voluntary training. This may be due to reductions in exposure rather than risk reduction. Compulsory training may act to deter would be riders from applying for a licence (because of the effort involved in completing the training), thereby discouraging riding and, hence, exposure to risk.
- There is no real evidence of particular programs or components leading to reductions in crash risk. The lack of scientific evidence from training evaluations makes it difficult to identify best practice in terms of frequency and duration of training, learning aids, training venues and assessment techniques.
- Longer or more costly compulsory programs might also be expected to lead to larger reductions in riding especially where riding is not for leisure. Such courses may act to deter would be riders from applying for a licence (because of the effort involved in completing the training), thereby discouraging riding and hence, exposure to risk.
Hazard perception training holds promise for developing such skills and reducing crashes.
Rider testing influences training in two main ways; (1) the content of the test and the test standards directly influence the type, standards and amount of training and practice, and (2) the test itself may serve as training by indicating to “failed” learners the areas that need further work.
In general, both knowledge and practical motorcycle tests include very little coverage of characteristics such as propensity to take risks, and attitudes and motivation. The importance of hazard perception skills for safe riding has been clearly established. More comprehensive empirical research needs to be done in terms of what affects motorcycle rider hazard perception, how this varies among the different classes of hazards, and the extent to which hazard perception in motorcyclists can be trained.
There has been little research on the effectiveness of motorcycle tests, despite their widespread use. Improved testing has been associated with reductions in casualties among novice motorcyclists in those jurisdictions where evaluations had been conducted. However, these reductions may result from a reduction in the amount of riding, as potential riders in the studies conducted were not inclined to participate in more complex training schemes and, therefore, it is likely they were less likely to become riders. Nevertheless, for motorcycle licence applicants who are serious about taking up riding, testing is an important component of the licensing system given the guiding role that it has in establishing the method and subject matter of training.
Information sourced from A review of potential countermeasures for motorcycle and scooter safety across APEC (Full report and References [PDF, 304KB]). |
