502 Understanding experience and safety-related behaviours of off-road motorcycle riders

<h3>Introduction</h3> A substantial proportion of motorcyclist injuries occur in off-road areas. However, very little is known about their characteristics and contributing patterns/factors to injury. This study aims to collect information to improve understanding of riding experience, and safety-related behaviours. <h3>Methods</h3> Over 1,500 Victorian motorcyclists aged 16 years + who ride off-road completed an online survey. Survey questions included rider demographics, riding experience and patterns, safety behaviours and crash experience. <h3>Results</h3> Over three-quarters of riders were aged 30 years or older and 95% were male. Over 80% had a full motorcycle license and about half were experienced riders. The most prevalent areas ridden were single track/natural terrain in forests/parks (55%), followed by double track or unsealed roads in forests/parks (50%), farms (11%), private property (8%), motocross tracks or dedicated venues (7%), and public land in residential areas (5%). Wearing rates were high for helmets (99%), gloves (95%), boots (92%) and goggles/visor (86%). Lower wearing rates were found for other protective clothing: roost guards (43%); shoulder/elbow armour (57%. Young riders had the lowest rates of protective clothing use. 60% of participants were injured while riding off-road in the past 3 years. 43% indicated minor injuries, while 9% reported at least one moderate injury, and 8% reported at least one serious injury. Half of all serious injury crashes occurred while riding on a double track or unsealed road in a state forest or park, while 18% occurred on a single track or natural terrain. <h3>Discussion &amp; Conclusions</h3> There is a paucity of research regarding off-road motorcyclist exposure, risk and safety. Survey findings showed that off-road riders were generally older, male, very experienced, rode in groups, and that protective clothing use was less amongst younger riders. A high proportion had sustained an injury while riding, and the most prevalent riding area for those seriously injured was on a double track or unsealed road in a state forest or park. This is the first survey of its kind in Victoria and represents and important, early step to developing injury prevention countermeasures for off-road riders.