Characteristics of Emerging Road and Trail Users and Their Safety

Skating Skill and Performance

According to recent research, differences in skaters' skill levels can result in significant differences in operational characteristics. For example, novice skaters typically travel more slowly and have a narrower sweep width than advanced skaters.⁽⁸⁾ Skaters choose among several different techniques to stop, often based loosely on their general skating ability. The more basic stopping techniques used by novice skaters require longer time and distance to stop from a given speed. Novice skaters have difficulty making sharp turns and stopping quickly, especially on downhill grades.⁽⁹⁾ Skaters with more practice and experience typically travel at higher speed, which corresponds with a wider sweep width.⁽⁸⁾ These skaters also have much more maneuverability and control. Some techniques employed by advanced skaters can stop them in a very short distance when necessary.

^8.  Birriel, E., J.C. Pernia, J.J. Lu, and T.A. Petritsch. The Operational Characteristics of Inline Skaters. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, January 2001.

^9.  Osberg, J.S., and S.C. Stiles. Safety Behavior of In-line Skaters. Injury Prevention, Vol. 6, No. 3, 2000, pp. 229-231.