Motorcycle rider behaviour and safety on farms

Motorcycles are a major cause of hospital-treated injuries that occur on farms in Victoria. Data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU) for the 10-year period July 2012 to June 2022 shows around 500 Victorian emergency department presentations due to work-related motorcycle injuries and approximately 3000 other motorcycle injuries on farms. Overall, motorcycle riders injured on farms are male (72%);  those injured while working are more likely to be adults aged 25-64 years (67%), whereas those with non-work farm injuries are aged 24 years or less (60%).

This project will use a systems approach, examining safety policies and procedures on farms, as well as the behaviour and attitudes of farm owners/managers and injured motorcycle riders (contrasting work vs other injuries).

Potential areas of investigation include:

  • Analysis of individual injury events – what were the causes of motorcycle rider injuries, what could have been done to prevent the injury?
  • Safety practices e.g. wearing of protective equipment, speed limits, knowledge and attitudes to safety
  • Skills and knowledge – including levels of experience and training among riders
  • Attitudes to risk – including knowledge of potential risks & perceptions of risk

This is a mixed methods project, using quantitative methods such as online surveys and qualitative interviews/focus groups with farm owners/managers and motorcycle riders. The project will also involve quantitative analyses of injury data sets. The overall aim of this PhD research program is to identify barriers to safety among motorcycle riders on farms and to translate this information into strategies aimed at mitigating the risk of injury (e.g. educational programs, skills training).

This PhD research program would be supervised by Professor Jennifer Oxley (MUARC), Associate Professor Janneke Berecki-Gisolf (VISU) and Dr Jane Hayman (VISU).

Learn more about our Human Factors and Sustainable Safety team and the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU).