General discussion: a systematic look at motorcycling safety

The author examines the operating system in which the motorcyclist uses his machine and concludes that the symposium papers deal primarily with attributes of the human operator and, to a lesser extent, with his machine. The views of three classes of operator are examined and it is found that their views differ considerably as to how the system should be changed if motorcycling is to be made safer. The symposium discussion is seen to ascribe special importance to seven subject matters, all but one of which (the major one of motorcycle design) involve the difficult task of changing the behaviour of motorcyclists. The author concludes that there is more scope for profitable work in redesigning the environment in which motorcyclists operate. He proposes research into the regulations governing motorcycle operation; the value and cost to the community of motorcycles; road and traffic engineering; the behaviour of other road users; the attitudes of police; and the premium policies of insurers, especially government controlled third party insurers (a).