title: The role of conspicuity in preventing bicycle crashes involving a motor vehicle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bicycle use, despite its proven health and other benefits, is rarely part of everyday travel for many people due to the perceived risk of injury from collision crashes. This article investigated the role of physical vs. attention conspicuity in preventing bicycle crashes involving a motor vehicle in New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Taupo Bicycle Study involved 2590 adult cyclists recruited in 2006 (43.1% response rate) and followed for bicycle crash outcomes through linkage to four national databases. A composite measure of physical conspicuity was created using latent class analysis based on the use of fluorescent colours, lights and reflective materials, and the main colour of top, helmet and bike frame. Attention conspicuity was assessed based on regional differences in travel patterns and the amount of riding in a bunch. Cox regression modelling for repeated events was performed with multivariate adjustments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a median follow-up period of 6.4 years, 162 participants experienced 187 bicycle-motor vehicle crashes. The crash risk was not predicted by the four latent classes identified and the amount of bunch riding but was higher in Auckland, the region with the lowest level of bicycle use relative to car use. In subgroup analyses, compared to other latent classes, the most physically conspicuous group had a higher risk in Auckland but a lower risk in other regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conspicuity aids may not be effective in preventing bicycle-motor vehicle crashes in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland, where attention conspicuity is low.
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand s.tintin@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Sandar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tin Tin
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ameratunga
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003116:Color; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009520:New Zealand; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Aust N Z J Public Health. 2011 Feb;35(1):54-60
references.pmid: 21299701
references.citation: Accid Anal Prev. 2003 Nov;35(6):885-91
references.pmid: 12971922
references.citation: Aust N Z J Public Health. 2011 Aug;35(4):357-63
references.pmid: 21806731
references.citation: Accid Anal Prev. 2012 Jan;44(1):97-103
references.pmid: 22062342
references.citation: Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011 Aug;21(4):496-509
references.pmid: 21496106
references.citation: Accid Anal Prev. 1998 Sep;30(5):657-66
references.pmid: 9678219
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2008 Mar;44(2):446-56
references.pmid: 18331135
references.citation: Prev Med. 2013 Sep;57(3):152-61
references.pmid: 23707709
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2013 May 01;13:420
references.pmid: 23635027
references.citation: Inj Prev. 2003 Sep;9(3):205-9
references.pmid: 12966006
references.citation: Accid Anal Prev. 1996 Mar;28(2):147-53
references.pmid: 8703272
references.citation: Accid Anal Prev. 2013 Jun;55:48-53
references.pmid: 23542135
references.citation: Accid Anal Prev. 2009 Jul;41(4):772-6
references.pmid: 19540966
references.citation: Perception. 1980;9(2):183-216
references.pmid: 7375327
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2010 Jan 27;10:39
references.pmid: 20105286
references.citation: Inj Prev. 2009 Dec;15(6):369-73
references.pmid: 19959727
references.citation: Accid Anal Prev. 2014 Mar;64:69-77
references.pmid: 24333770
references.citation: Inj Prev. 2008 Feb;14(1):11-8
references.pmid: 18245309
references.citation: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Oct 18;(4):CD003438
references.pmid: 17054171
references.citation: Struct Equ Modeling. 2007;14(4):671-694
references.pmid: 19953201
references.citation: J Trauma. 2010 Nov;69(5):1112-7; discussion 1117-9
references.pmid: 21068616
references.citation: Health Promot J Austr. 2005 Apr;16(1):47-51
references.pmid: 16389930