Systematic Reviews of Interventions in Motorcycle Safety

Aims


Helmet use is often a practical and low-cost intervention

The aims of this study are to:

  • review and synthesise evidence for interventions designed to reduce motorcycle injury
  • summarise the estimated reductions in risk of death and injury achieved by these interventions and
  • use these to begin a dialogue with researchers in China in relation to developing a protocol for a series of intervention studies aiming to examine methods of reducing injury amongst motorcycle riders in China.

The subjects that have been selected as the topics of these reviews - helmet use, helmet legislation, devices to improve visibility of motorcycles and riders, and rider training and education - are all interventions that are likely to have widespread applicability and in many cases are practical, relatively low-cost interventions.

The second stage of this project - namely, the use of the results of the systematic reviews to develop a trial protocol in collaboration with researchers and policy makers in China - is an essential step in the dissemination of the results. Much of the research in these areas has been carried out in high income countries and testing the interventions within local settings in low income countries will be essential.

Methods

Four Cochrane Collaboration-style systematic reviews will be conducted:

  1. The effectiveness of helmets for preventing injuries in motorcyclists
  2. The effectiveness of interventions to increase motorcycle and rider conspicuity in reducing motorcycle crash fatalities and injuries in motorcyclists
  3. The effectiveness of helmet use legislation in reducing motorcycle crash fatalities and injuries in motorcyclists
  4. The effectiveness of motorcycle rider training and education in reducing motorcycle crash fatalities and injuries in motorcyclists.

Status/Results


Testing the interventions within local settings in low income countries will be essential.

The first review 'helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders' was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in February 2004, as was the protocol for the review 'increasing motorcycle and rider conspicuity for preventing death and injury in motorcyclists'. The protocol for the 'helmet use legislation' review was published in July 2004, and the review protocol for 'rider training and education' in April 2005.

Publications

systematic reviews of interventions in motorcycle safety publication list

Institute Investigators

Funding Agencies