IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 16, 2013 – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation, along with its co-sponsor, the ifz (Institute for Motorcycle Safety), located in Essen, Germany, has issued an official call for papers to be considered for presentation at the upcoming International Motorcycle Safety Conference, titled "The Human Element: The Way Forward." The U.S.-based safety conference will be held Oct. 16 – 17, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., in conjunction with the debut of the American International Motorcycle Expo. 

Interested presenters should submit abstracts of their papers to Ken Glaser, Director, Special Projects, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, 2 Jenner, Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618, kglaser@msf-usa.org, no later than March 31, 2013.

Abstracts should be 500 words or less (one single-spaced typed page using a font no smaller than 12 point) and include the author/authors, affiliation, final title, starting point for investigation, methods, results, as well as impact, effects and/or consequences. In addition to the abstract, a maximum of five pages of supporting documents (i.e., charts, tables, diagrams, references) will be accepted to aid in the selection of papers. Papers to be considered for presentation should address one or more of the following topics:

Research and Studies (Naturalistic Studies; Motorcyclist Crash Analysis; Injury and Fatality Statistics; Impaired Rider Research)

Human Factors (Motorcyclist Safety Attitudes on Training/Education; Impaired Riding, Conspicuity or Protective Gear; Visual/Hazard Perception; Roadway Characteristics, ITS and other Technology; Rider Demographics/Characteristics; Sociological/Cultural Aspects of Rider Safety)

Countermeasures (Motorcyclist Training and Education Evaluations; Motorcyclist Training Program Administration; Protective Gear; Conspicuity; Impaired Riding Programs; Motorcyclist Licensing and Testing; Public Information and Education; Law Enforcement)

To determine acceptability for presentation, abstracts will be reviewed by the conference steering committee, chaired by MSF President and CEO Tim Buche. Papers should use research methodology commonly accepted in their referenced discipline and be authored between 2010 and 2013. Priority will be given to more recent research.

The 2013 ifz/MSF International Motorcycle Safety Conference marks the first time since 2006 that MSF has hosted such an event in the United States. At the '06 conference, approximately 350 participants representing 18 countries and 32 states attended. For additional information, please contact Dr. Sherry Williams, Director of Quality Assurance and Research, at (949) 727-3227, ext. 3143, or email swilliams@msf-usa.org.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation® promotes safety through rider training and education, operator licensing tests and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. Standards established by the MSF® have been recognized worldwide since 1973.

The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, BRP, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha. For safety information or to enroll in the RiderCourseSM nearest you, visit www.msf-usa.org or call (800) 446-9227.

The ifz (Institute for Motorcycle Safety), located in Essen, Germany, dedicates its work to any improvement of the situation of powered two-wheelers, supports ideas on road traffic safety and puts them into practice, informs about the particularities of motorcycle riding and asks for mutual understanding among all road traffic participants. As a member of the German Verkehrssicherheitsrat (DVR, a German Association working on behalf of Road Traffic Safety) the ifz actively co-operates in the development and realization of road safety programs for motorized two-wheelers, from motor-assisted bicycles to high engine capacity motorcycles. Simultaneously, the ifz supports projects carried out by BASt (Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen, German Federal Highway Research Institute) on the same topic. In addition to local research, the ifz organizes international motorcycle conferences, in co-operation with the U.S.-based Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), which are attended by scientists from all over the world.

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