Background There is community demand for investment in motorcycle rider training programs but little evidence of its effectiveness in preventing crashes. This randomised trial of an on-road rider coaching program commissioned by VicRoads, the road authority for the State of Victoria, Australia, aimed to determine its effectiveness in reducing crashes in novice motorcycle riders.

Methods Between May 2010 and October 2012 2399 newly-licensed provisional riders were recruited in Victoria, Australia and completed a telephone interview before randomisation to intervention or control groups. Riders in the intervention group were offered an on-road motorcycle rider coaching program which involved pre-program activities, 4 hours riding and facilitated discussion in small groups with a riding coach. Outcome measures were collected for all participants via telephone interviews at 3 and 12 months after program delivery (or equivalent for controls), and via linkage to police-recorded crash and offence data. The primary outcome was a composite measure of police-recorded and self-reported crashes; secondary outcomes included traffic offences, near crashes, riding exposure, and riding behaviours and motivations.

Results Follow-up was 89% at 3 months and 88% at 12 months; 60% of the intervention group completed the program. Intention-to-treat analyses conducted in 2014 indicated no effect on crash risk at 3 months (adjusted OR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.65–1.27) or 12 months (adjusted OR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.78–1.29). Riders in the intervention group reported increased riding exposure, speeding behaviours and rider confidence.

Conclusions There was no evidence that this on-road motorcycle rider coaching program reduced the risk of crash, and we found an increase in crash-related risk factors. Given the absence of road safety benefits such programs should be considered a less promising strategy than other aspects of a safe system approach.