Motorcyclists
Approximately 46 motorcyclists (including pillion passengers) are killed on Victoria’s roads each year. Motorcyclists are approximately 30 times more likely to sustain fatal or serious injury per kilometre travelled than other vehicle occupants.
Motorcyclists and pillion passengers account for approximately 14 per cent of the road toll, yet motorcycles make up only three per cent of all registered vehicles in Victoria.
Trends in motorcycle and pillion fatalities since 2002 have been encouraging with an average 23 per cent reduction in Victoria compared to an average 5 per cent increase in fatalities for the rest of Australia.
Based on age, motorcyclists are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when they are between 21 and 36 years old, rather than between 18 and 25 for drivers. This reflects the increasing popularity of motorcycling among older riders, many of whom return to motorcycling after a long break during which riding skills may deteriorate.
The most vulnerable (i.e killed or seriously injured ) age range for motorcyclists is 21 to 36. This compares to the age range of 18 to 25 for drivers.
A number of issues need to be considered in improving safety for motorcyclists:
Older motorcycle riders: A demographic shift has seen the popularity of motorcycling significantly increase among older age groups. This means that road safety programs will need to have an increased focus on older riders.
Infrastructure: Head-on crashes, run-off-road and side impact crashes account for around 75 per cent of all motorcyclist fatalities. Improvements to roads and roadsides, including intersections, will significantly increase motorcyclist safety by reducing the incidence of these crashes.
Protective wear: The severity of personal injury sustained by a motorcyclist in the event of a crash is significantly reduced if the motorcyclist is wearing high standard protective wear.
What the strategy will do
arrive alive 2008-2017 will take measures to improve motorcyclist safety that include:
- Improving road and roadside design to the safest levels practicable for motorcyclists including motorcycle Blackspot treatments and Blacklength treatments on popular motorcycle routes. Preliminary analysis of the motorcycle Blackspot program has found a 38 per cent reduction in motorcycle casualty crashes at treated locations.
- Encouraging motorcycle manufacturers to develop new technologies that will help prevent motorcycle crashes and protect riders. These include motorcycle airbags and integrated braking systems.
- Introducing improved training programs and licensing systems for riders to enhance the defensive riding skills of inexperienced riders.
- Increasing targeted enforcement to reduce the incidence of unlicensed riding.
- Educating drivers to be aware of motorcyclists on the road and their safety requirements.
- Promoting the use of high standard protective wear by motorcyclists.
