Motorcyclists are vulnerable road users and are over represented in road fatality and injury statistics. We aimed to explore the trend of ageing motorcyclists, factors in older motorcyclist collisions and injury severity and fatality rates in older motorcyclists.

We performed a literature review of the subject using TRID, Cochrane Injuries, Medline and CINAHL.

Internationally, there has been a disproportionate rise in injuries and fatalities involving older motorcyclists. Older motorcyclists are more likely to be admitted to hospital, have more severe injuries, require intensive care, have a longer length of stay and suffer more complications. Head and thoracic injuries are more common and injuries at all sites are more severe in older adults. Comorbidities and reduced physiologic reserve predispose older motorcyclists to higher mortality and more severe injuries. Older motorcyclists are more likely to ride motorcycles with larger capacity engines. They are more likely to crash on higher speed roadways and in rural areas. An increasing proportion of older motorcyclists are returning riders whose riding skill has likely depreciated over time but are riding on powerful machines.

Motorcyclists are getting older. The nature of motorcycling is changing and for many, especially older riders, it is primarily a leisure pursuit. In general, older motorcyclists are safer riders but in recent years, there has been an inordinate rise in fatalities and injuries affecting older motorcyclists. Training and safety initiatives for older motorcyclists and returning riders may be effective in reducing injuries and fatalities.