Summary of the 2006 International Motorcycle Safety Conference
“The Human Element”

Long Beach, California
March 28-30, 2006


The MSF and its member companies hosted the world's motorcycle safety community for a week in Southern California. A true safety summit, the 325 attendees came from more than 20 countries, 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In all, 37 research papers were published in the proceedings and presented. Rider training demonstrations just before and after the conference allowed instructors and attendees to observe and participate in actual MSF classes. Presentations came from university programs, government agencies, rider organizations, training professionals and the motorcycle industry. The information shared among all of these groups will be used in future safety initiatives and research efforts that seek to reduce risk for motorcyclists around the globe.


For detailed information about the conference, please click here.


We have had several requests for posting the research papers presented at the recent IMSC. To make this information widely accessible we have posted the papers here. To download these files, please right click and use "Save Target As".

The papers are also available on CD Rom and can be ordered from the MSF online store for $10 (plus shipping and handling). Click here to order.

Conference Proceedings
1 MAIDS
  MAIDS brochure
2 Crash Causation
  Where are the Increases in Motorcycle Rider Fatalities ~Slides
  Where are the Increases in Motorcycle Rider Fatalities
  Timing of Crash Investigations
  Case Studies and What to Learn from Them
3 Rider Characteristics
  Crashes of Older Australian Riders
  Self Assessment Measures for Aging Motorcyclists
4 Braking & Posture
  Task Analysis of Intensive Braking of Motorcycles
  Performance Evaluations of Various Braking Systems
  Three Dimensional Analysis of Rider Posture
5 Braking & Conspicuity
  Comparison of Stopping Distance
  Effects of Motor Vehicle DRL on Motorcycle Conspicuity
6 Rider Responses
  Rider Training and Evasive Action in Thailand and LA
  Do I Brake or Do I Swerve
  Comparison of Hazard Perception and Response
7 Government & Other Strategic Initiatives
  Linking the silos
  Strategic Motorcycle Safety Program in Victoria Australia
  New rider training system in Norway
  IHIE Guidelines - Improving Safety Through Engineering
8 Community Rider Interaction
  CycleSafe Taming The Road Safety Rally
  Motorcycle Rider Mentor Program
  Group Work in Rider Training
  Great Ocean Road
9 Licensing
  Interventions to Increase Motorcycle Licensure
  Second-Tier Motorcycle Skills Testing in Ontario Canada
10 Operational Aspects & Continual Improvement of Rider Training Programs
  Checking on Standards - a Canadian Perspective
  Competencies and Abilities of RiderCoach Trainer
11 Protective Gear
  Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets ~Slides
  Comparison Tests of Motorcycle Helmets
  Estimating Helmet Effectiveness
  Helmet Optimization Against Biomechanical Criteria
  Protective Clothing - Function or Fashion
12 Focus On Alcohol
  Drinking, Riding, Prevention Focus Group
  Riders Helping Riders
  Methods for Determining Effects of Alcohol
  Effect of BAC on Motorcycle Crash Characteristics
  Demographics on Riding and Alcohol (PowerPoint)
13 Poster Presentations
  Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Finland 1986-1995
  Bystander Assistance Program Survey


The MSF Board of Trustees thanks the IMSC Steering Committee, presenters, emcees, moderators, exhibitors, all attendees, and especially the sponsors, all of whom contributed considerable time, effort and funding to this conference.