Drivers and motorcyclists in Victoria are being urged to look out for each other and share the roads safely, with the number of motorbikes on the roads expected to increase as the weather warms up.
Marking the inaugural Motorcyclist Awareness Month, spearheaded by Victoria’s Motorcycling Community Engagement Panel (MCEP), Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said the initiative had been developed in collaboration with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Department of Transport and Victoria Police.
The month aims to remind motorists that road safety is a shared responsibility and that everyone has a role to play in keeping the roads safe.
“Whether we are on two wheels or four, whether it’s our daily commute or a road trip, we all need to look out for each other every time we use the road,” said Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll.
Traditionally, motorbike rider travel increases during the warmer and daylight savings months, with more recreational riders on the roads. The increase in rider numbers and distances travelled brings a greater risk of crashes involving motorbikes.
The TAC is calling on drivers to lookout for people on motorbikes and for riders to improve their safety by ensuring they are visible through safe road positioning and wearing the appropriate protective gear on every ride.
The organisation said more than half of the 42 motorcyclist fatalities on Victorian roads this year have occurred in collisions with other vehicles, reinforcing the importance of sharing the roads.
