BikeSafe NC is a motorcycle safety initiative in North Carolina that aims to reduce collisions and fatalities. It offers 5-hour classroom and on-road training courses in 31 counties. However, research found low awareness and attendance of the program. A literature review uncovered 17 monthly classes in various locations but a need for harder licensing requirements. Focus groups of students identified risks like speeding but lacked awareness of safety initiatives. Surveys suggested some attendees prioritized speed over safety. Recommendations included partnerships, expanded offerings, and incentives to increase attendance and awareness of the underutilized BikeSafe NC program.

1. BikeSafe NC
Team Rancho Santa Margarita
Stacey Jennings, Jessica Sadeckas, Allie
Koehler, Michael Lutz, and David Stevens

2. Agenda
• Background of
BikeSafe NC
• Research Problems
• Focus Group
• Literature Review
• Qualitative Analysis
• Quantitative
Analysis
• Results
• Recommendations
• Conclusions

3. Background
• Traffic safety initiative that works
with Governor‟s Highway Safety
Program
• Created because of an increasing
amount of fatalities in NC
• Modeled after BikeSafe London
• 2009 the program expanded and
NC saw first statewide reduction
in motorcycle fatalities in 5 years
• Primary goal is to reduce
motorcycle collisions and fatalities.

4. Program Outline
• 3 Hours in the Classroom
• 2 Hours on-road “ride out” sessions
• Training in Motorcycle control, collision causation
factors, and security
• Held in 31 counties in North
Carolina over the weekend.

5. Research Problems
1. Research the scope of the campaign
• How many safety classes are offered?
• Where are they located?
• How often?
2. Compare statistics to different states with
similar programs
• Help better research a more successful program.

6. Literature Review
● Researched BikeSafe North Carolina Website
● Governor‟s Highway Safety Program
● North Carolina Department of Transportation
● Other States Motorcycle Safety Programs

7. Qualitative Analysis
•2 Focus Groups: 6 students per group
•Ages 18-21
•Asked 8 identical questions followed by a
discussion

8. Quantitative Analysis
• Survey Questions focused on research problem
#1—Scope of the Campaign
• Interested in seeing if primarily reckless drivers
or safe drivers were attending the course
• Search possible correlation between individuals
attending the program and whether they
identify as reckless or not.

9. Results

10. Literature Review Results
Research Problem 1:
• 17 BikeSafe NC classes each month in various locations around the state
• Riders get chance to participate in “Rider Skills Days”
• Pre-booked days held in 31 counties throughout NC
• Difference between D.C. safety and North Carolina motorcycle safety
o In D.C., have to be 18 yrs old to take safety test and “on the road test”
o In N.C., teach yourself to drive then to go DMV for license
o D.C. had 2 motorcycle fatalities in 2012.

11. Literature Review Results Cont…
Research Problem 2:
• Focus on three states: Florida, Oregon, and NC
• The information was compiled from 2 different time periods over a 2-
yr span—Jan. 2011 to June 2011 and Jan. 2012 to Sept. 2012
o The fatalities were recorded in a 6 month time period in 2011 and
in the same 6 month time frame in 2012 in order to determine any
differences in results. The same scenario is then repeated with a 9
month time frame.
o Most fatalities occurred in Florida; Least occurred in Oregon
o Each has its own Bike safety program

12. Qualitative Analysis Results
1. Motorcycle Safety
a. Only concern was of protective clothing such as long sleeves, long
pants, boots, gloves, and helmets
b. Both groups agreed that many accidents are a result of adrenaline and the „need for
speed‟ attitude rather than lack of specific motorcycle training.
2. Should age requirement to obtain motorcycle license be changed
a. most of the respondents argued that that is not an issue
b. all were in agreement that it should be a harder process for someone to obtain a
motorcycle license.
3. Students’ current awareness motorcycle safety initiatives
a. response was unanimous across the board: as far as they all were concerned, there
aren‟t any initiatives in North Carolina.

13. Focus Group

14. Quantitative Analysis Results

15. Quantitative Analysis Results

16. Comments
• “I hate wearing a helmet. I‟ve been racing motocross since I was 10
years old, ain‟t nothing a cop can teach me.”
• “Took the class when I got my first bike, got in a wreck two months
later going to fast around a corner while distracted by a pretty girl.”
• “I don't like cops.”

17. Recommendations
1. Pamphlets and brochures to hand out at motorcycle events
2. Harley-Davidson Events
a. I.e.—Tilley Harley-Davidson of Salisbury, NC is having a Garage Party
on April 26, 2014
b. Event is specifically to attract new riders to learn about the Harley-
Davidson lifestyle and bikes.
3. Future Business Links
a. DMV: To obtain a motorcycle license, try to make it a requirement to
attend the basic level course or to renew a motorcycle license, a
requirement could be to attend the experienced course.

18. Recommendations Cont...
b. Insurance Companies: Motorcycle Insurance Companies could offer a
reduced rate to riders who have taken both of the Bike Safe NC
courses (or raise the current rate for riders who have not completed
the course)
4. Course Offerings—Offer two courses to meet the needs of all riders:
a. Basic Course: course will go over basic skills, regulations, and safety
requirements
b. Experienced Course: in street strategies and hazard response skills
will be focused on such as practice cornering, braking, and swerving.
Additional skills will be master precision vehicle handling control,
advanced low-speed maneuvering, and hazard response skills.

19. Conclusion
• BikeSafe NC is a beneficial initiative created to help prevent crashes and
fatalities for motorcyclists
• Low awareness of the program as well as the minimal attendance at the
program events has shown the ineffectiveness of its campaign
o Less than 100 people total sign up for BikeSafe NC courses a month
o Attendance is extremely low, especially in the Research Triangle area
where the majority of training courses are being held—could be linked
low awareness in this area.
• Through exploratory research of other successful programs, we were able
to make strong recommendations that will hopefully increase brand name
awareness, increase attendance at our programs, and ultimately decrease
the fatalities to zero in North Carolina.

20. Questions?