title: Does an on-road motorcycle coaching program reduce crashes in novice riders? A randomised control trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Motorcycle riding is increasing globally and confers a high risk of crash-related injury and death. There is community demand for investment in rider training programs but no high-quality evidence about its effectiveness in preventing crashes. This randomised trial of an on-road rider coaching program aimed to determine its effectiveness in reducing crashes in novice motorcycle riders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2010 and October 2012, 2399 newly-licensed provisional riders were recruited in Victoria, Australia and completed a telephone interview before randomisation to intervention or control groups. Riders in the intervention group were offered an on-road motorcycle rider coaching program which involved pre-program activities, 4h riding and facilitated discussion in small groups with a riding coach. Outcome measures were collected for all participants via telephone interviews at 3 and 12 months after program delivery (or equivalent for controls), and via linkage to police-recorded crash and offence data. The primary outcome was a composite measure of police-recorded and self-reported crashes; secondary outcomes included traffic offences, near crashes, riding exposure, and riding behaviours and motivations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up was 89% at 3 months and 88% at 12 months; 60% of the intervention group completed the program. Intention-to-treat analyses conducted in 2014 indicated no effect on crash risk at 3 months (adjusted OR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.65-1.27) or 12 months (adjusted OR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.78-1.29). Riders in the intervention group reported increased riding exposure, speeding behaviours and rider confidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no evidence that this on-road motorcycle rider coaching program reduced the risk of crash, and we found an increase in crash-related risk factors.
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: rivers@george.org.au.
authors.forename: Rebecca Q
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Ivers
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sakashita
authors.affiliation: Transport and Road Safety Research, The University of NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Senserrick
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; New York University, Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elkington
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Serigne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Transport and Road Safety Research, The University of NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Soufiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boufous
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Rome
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016495:Police; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Epidemiology; Injury prevention; Motorcycle; Road safety