The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) is reminding drivers and motorcycle riders to look out for each other on the roads, with rider numbers set to increase during the coming warmer months.
Last year, 56 motorcyclists (all male) died in crashes on Victorian roads, the highest number of motorcyclist lives lost since 2002. So far this year 30 motorcycle riders have lost their lives on Victorian roads, compared with 44 at the same time in 2016.
Despite the reduction, TAC Road Safety Lead Director Samantha Cockfield says motorcycle riders continued to be over-represented in road fatalities.
“We are coming into the time of year when the number of riders on Victorian roads increases sharply and with that, the risk of crashes involving motorcycle riders is higher,” she said. “Tragically we saw a spike in people dying in motorcycle crashes on Victorian roads last year and, while numbers are down this year compared with 2016, too many people are being killed in motorcycle crashes.”
The TAC has re-launched its motorcycle safety campaign ‘Driver think rider – Rider think driver’, encouraging riders and drivers to share responsibility for keeping each other safe. The campaign coincides with this weekend’s Moto GP at Phillip Island, which will see thousands of motorcyclists on the roads to and from the island.
