Our developing programme

Our research

Understanding patterns of injury, the wider consequences of collisions and opportunities for prevention.

The question guiding our work

What are the patterns and causes of motorcycle collisions in England, what is their true impact on society, and can national data be linked to identify the most effective ways to prevent them?

Four connected research themes

Epidemiology

Understanding motorcycle injuries

We want to understand who is injured, the circumstances of motorcycle collisions and what happens during care and recovery. Bringing information from different services together could reveal patterns that individual records miss.

This work will help identify gaps in the evidence and guide prevention towards the people and circumstances where it could make the greatest difference.

Theme lead: Professor Julie Mytton

Societal burden

The wider impact of collisions

The consequences of a collision can extend far beyond hospital care. We are developing ways to understand the effects on families, employment, independence, public services and the wider community.

This includes rehabilitation, unpaid care, road disruption and the impact on witnesses and emergency responders. Understanding these consequences can help make the case for investment in prevention.

Theme lead: Dr Dermot McCarthy

Behavioural and engineering factors

Behaviour and engineering

We are exploring how rider and other road-user behaviour, vehicle design and the road environment can inform practical approaches to prevention.

The aim is to develop and evaluate approaches that make sense to riders, with careful testing of whether they can reduce collisions or lessen injuries while recognising the freedom and enjoyment of motorcycling.

Theme lead: Dr Richard McIlroy

Inclusion and public involvement

Including overlooked voices

Motorcycling includes people with very different lives, experiences and reasons for riding. We want to work with people whose voices are less often heard in research, including those who do not engage with established riding groups.

Working through trusted community connections can help people shape the questions we ask and how studies are designed. Inclusion runs through all of our research themes.

Theme lead: Professor Mel Hughes

Connecting the whole picture

No single record captures everything that happens after a motorcycle collision. We are exploring how information from transport, ambulance, hospital and other services could be linked to understand injuries and their consequences more fully.

This requires appropriate permissions, secure data arrangements and careful study design. Detailed project descriptions, methods and progress updates will be added here as the programme develops.

Help shape the questions we ask →