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Evaluation Of Bikesafe Scotland

ANNEX A: RESEARCH METHODS

1. The quantitative element of this research consisted of before and after surveys of people who took part in the Bikesafe Scotland Assessed Ride programme between June and September 2002 and a separate survey of people who took part in assessed rides in 2001.

Before and after surveys of 2002 Bikesafe Scotland participants

Pre-course survey

2. Police Bikesafe representatives from each of the eight Scottish forces were asked to hand out self-completion questionnaires to everyone who took part in Bikesafe Scotland between mid-June and the end of September 2002. Participants were provided with a reply paid envelope in which to return their questionnaire, or if they preferred they could return them to the police Bikesafe representative during the theory session.

3. The questionnaire was designed to provide a measure of participants' riding attitudes and behaviour before they took part in Bikesafe, so the Bikesafe representatives were asked to ensure that they were handed out (and preferably filled in) prior to the theory session. The questionnaire took about 10 minutes to complete and covered topics including:

• Information about the bike(s) participants ride
• Participants' riding experiences, from passing their test onwards (including any breaks in riding)
• Preferred and normal riding speeds on various different roads
• How they heard about Bikesafe and why they decided to take part
• Whether/how often they commit errors or violations while riding

4. The questions about violations and preferred and normal speeds draw on recent research on drivers and speeding, carried out by NFO System Three and Napier University for the Scottish Executive (Napier TRL and NFO System Three, forthcoming). The question about preferred and normal speeds referred to photographs of 6 different roads which were included in the questionnaire.

5. Completed questionnaires were returned by 324 participants. According to figures provided by police Bikesafe representatives for June to September participation in Bikesafe, this represents a response rate of approximately 58%. This assumes that all participants were in fact issued with questionnaires - if this was not the case, the response rate may in fact be higher.

Post-course survey

6. All 2002 Bikesafe Scotland participants who returned a pre-course survey were sent a second survey with a reply paid envelope by post approximately three months after they took part in the theory session. This questionnaire was intended to find out what they thought of the Assessed Ride programme and whether it had any impact on their driving behaviour. Topics covered included:

• Agreement with various statements about the Bikesafe course
• How useful participants found the scheme and what improvements they would suggest
• Preferred and normal riding speeds on various different roads
• Whether/how often they commit errors or violations while riding

7. All participants who returned completed post-course questionnaires were entered into a prize draw for a voucher for the motorcycle store of their choice. Completed questionnaires were returned from 111 participants (34% of those who returned pre-course questionnaires).

Survey of 2001 participants

8. Police Bikesafe representatives were asked to provide names and addresses of people who participated in the Assessed Ride programme in 2001. ¹³These people were sent a questionnaire with a reply paid envelope and a letter explaining the purpose of the research. This survey was intended to provide some indication of whether people still felt that Bikesafe had been useful and whether it had any effect on their riding behaviour a year after completing the course. It included a combination of topics from the 2002 pre-course and post-course questionnaires, such as:

• Details about their bike(s) and riding experiences
• Preferred and normal riding speeds on various different roads
• Whether/how often they commit errors or violations while riding
• How useful participants found Bikesafe and what improvements they would suggest
• Agreement with various statements about the Bikesafe course

9. Again, participants who returned completed post-course questionnaires were entered into a prize draw for a voucher for the motorcycle store of their choice. Completed questionnaires were returned from 167 - a response rate of 47%.

10. Full copies of all three questionnaires are available from the research team on request (e-mail: rachel.ormston@nfoeurope.com).

11. Table 1, below, shows the number of questionnaires returned for all three surveys from the different force areas. No 2002 questionnaires were received from participants in the Fife area as no assessed ride sessions ran during the period when the pre-course questionnaires were distributed.

Table 1: Questionnaires returned by police force area (number of questionnaires)

Qualitative component

12. The purpose of the qualitative component of the research was to explore the strengths and weaknesses of Bikesafe Scotland and to identify issues for the future development of motorcycle safety campaigns with key stakeholders.

In-depth interviews with police Bikesafe representatives and Bikesafe Scotland Working Group members

13. In-depth telephone interviews were carried out with representatives of the organisations involved in running Bikesafe Scotland, details of whom were provided by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign and the secretary of Bikesafe Scotland. A total of 12 interviews were conducted between late August and early October 2002. Representatives of BMF, MAG and Blackhorse Finance were interviewed, in addition to Bikesafe representatives from each of the eight Scottish Police force areas and a representative of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) Road Policing Standing Committee.

14. Interviews were semi-structured and the topics covered varied depending on the individual respondent. However, some of the topics discussed included:

• Details of the Bikesafe Scotland scheme in different areas
• Issues around the promotion of Bikesafe Scotland
• Strengths and weaknesses of Bikesafe Scotland
• Whether Bikesafe Scotland targets specific groups and how successful it is in reaching these groups
• How and why non-police stakeholders became involved in Bikesafe Scotland
• Issues around the voluntary nature of Bikesafe Scotland, including whether it should be an alternative to prosecution

15. Interviews were conducted by members of the NFO Social Research team. With the consent of the interviewees, all but one of these interviews was tape-recorded for subsequent analysis.

In-depth interviews with stakeholders from the motorcycle industry

16. Fifteen telephone interviews were carried out with various stakeholders from the motorcycle industry. Members of the police force involved in running Bikesafe Scotland assisted the NFO Social Research Team in identifying local motorcycle dealers, specialist insurers and training providers across Scotland for interview. Interviews were conducted with 6 alternative providers of advanced motorcycle training in Scotland, 7 Scottish motorcycle retailers and 2 representatives of specialist motorcycle insurance companies.

17. These interviews were intended to provide information that could help to improve the marketing and profile of Bikesafe Scotland or future motorcycle safety initiatives. Again, the topics covered varied depending on the individual respondent. Retailers and insurers were asked whether they had heard of the Bikesafe scheme and whether they promoted it to customers in anyway. They were also asked whether they ever got involved in safety initiatives targeting motorcyclists, and whether they offer, or would consider offering, discounts to riders who have participated in the Bikesafe Scotland Assessed Ride programme. 18. Interviews with alternative training providers were used to assess the possibility of involving other training providers in future schemes aimed at promoting motorcycle safety.

19. Interviews were not recorded, as it was felt that this would deter some interviewees from taking part, but detailed notes were taken for analysis. Again, all interviews were conducted by members of the NFO Social Research team.

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