Mature age skills training for experienced motorcycle riders

This paper describes why, and how, following a report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) (Monograph 12 Motorcycle Safety, October 2002) which showed an increase in fatalities among riders over 40 years of age, the Motorcycle Riders Association of the Australian Capital Territory (MRA ACT) developed a program specifically targeting mature age riders returning to riding after a break of some years. The nature of the course and how it was developed is outlined together with how the program was funded. As well, details are provided of how the marketing strategy was developed to attract what was perceived as being a target group not particularly interested in formal training. Finally, the paper reports on an evaluation of a program which exceeded the expectations of MRA ACT.