Road safety authorities are urging Victorians to keep motorcyclist safety front of mind following an alarming increase in the number of motorcyclists killed on the state’s roads.
October is Motorcyclist Awareness Month – an annual initiative encouraging both motorists and motorcyclists to share the road.
Now in its third year, the initiative is led by the Motorcycle Community Engagement Panel, in collaboration with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Victoria Police and the Department of Transport.
So far this year, 52 motorcyclists have died on Victoria’s roads, close to 50 per cent higher than at the same time last year when 35 motorcyclists had died.
TAC Head of Road Safety Samantha Cockfield said it was devastating to see significant increase in fatal motorcycle crashes and it was a stark reminder of the consequences when something goes wrong.
“Motorcyclist Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to engage with the Victorian community and educate road users how we can all play a role in keeping each other safe; every road user should feel safe, no matter how they get around,” said Ms Cockfield.
A new TAC digital campaign will encourage motorists to think about the person under the helmet and promote the importance of sharing the road safely, while the ‘Only Protected for a Moment’ campaign will remind motorcyclists to wear protective gear for every ride.
