Powered two wheeled vehicles, which include motorcycles and scooters are a growing part of Victoria’s transport future. They are becoming more popular as both a mode of transport and as a recreational activity.

However powered two wheeled vehicle riders and pillion passengers are amongst the most vulnerable of road users.

On Victorian roads, they account for 13% of deaths and serious injuries although they comprise only three per cent of registered vehicles and less than one per cent of traffic volume.

The aim of Victoria’s Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009-2013 is to reduce motorcyclist and scooter rider fatalities and serious injuries and to ensure that powered two wheeled vehicles are recognized in transport policy and planning.

The action plan identifies four priorities for action:

* increasing knowledge and understanding of powered two wheeled vehicle riding and crashes
* recognizing the role of powered two wheelers in the transport network and improving the road system for powered two wheelers
* improving rider and driver awareness, skills and knowledge
* encouraging greater use of safer motorcycles and scooters and protective clothing by riders.

Victoria’s Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009–2013 [PDF, 2,437KB, 44pp]

First progress report

In 2009, 38 motorcyclists died on Victorian roads, compared with 43 in 2008. At the same time, the number of registered motorcycles increased by 7%.

There has been a 16% decrease in motorcyclist fatalities between 2009 and the period 2006-2008. In comparison, motorcyclist fatalities across the rest of Australia decreased by 6% over the same period. At the same time, the number of registered motorcycles in Victoria has grown by 16%.

However, the number of riders seriously injured in Victoria is continuing to increase and there is a need to keep working to improve safety for riders.

The strategic action plan recognises the growing popularity of motorcycles on Victorian roads and the need for greater consideration of the role PTWs play in transport and land use planning.

Key achievements

Key achievements over the past 9 months have included:

* Delivery of 12 seminars on Making Roads Motorcycle Friendly to promote the use of motorcycle friendly products, practices and procedures.
* Completion of the first 12 months of the community policing and education project including 50 regional and five state-wide operations.
* Look, look, and look again campaign re-run to promote driver awareness of motorcycles.
* Inclusion of advice on motorcycle crash management in the Road to Solo Driving handbook for all learner drivers/riders.
* Three motorcycle information forums held in Victoria in November 2009.
* Completion of 5 on-road blackspot and long route projects and 2 other on-road projects.

The following table shows progress to date against forecast progress.




A copy of the progress reports for each of the key focus areas can be downloaded -

Increasing knowledge and understanding [PDF,16KB, 1pp]
PTWs in the transport network [PDF, 23KB, 3pp]
Rider and pillion passenger safety [PDF, 24KB, 3pp]
Safer PTWs and rider equipment [PDF, 16KB, 1pp]

Key projects
Some of the key projects that are currently being progressed include:

Making Roads Motorcycle Friendly
This project has involved the delivery of seminars aimed at improving awareness of the need to adopt motorcycle friendly engineering products, practices and maintenance procedures.

The seminars were targeted at those working in local government and VicRoads, as well as road design and construction contractors, and utility providers (public transport, electricity, gas, water and telecommunications).

About 200 people across Victoria attended one of the 12 seminars run to date.

An evaluation is currently being conducted to determine how successful the program was and enable the identification of next steps.

The Community Policing and Education Project
The Community Policing and Education Project is a two year state-wide campaign being conducted by the Victoria Police that has recently commenced its second year of operations. The project is targeting both riders and drivers who exhibit high risk behaviours that jeopardise the safety of motorcycle riders.

To date, 50 regional and 5 state wide operations have been conducted.

An evaluation of the program is being conducted to understand the impact of the program on rider and driver behaviours.

Look, look, and look again
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has recently re-run the ‘look again’ campaign to promote driver awareness of motorcycles.

This campaign promotes how important it is for drivers to look more carefully for motorcycle riders at intersections.

The television commercial component of the campaign was produced by the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport and adapted for Victoria. The campaign's key messages are supported by a strong billboard presence in conjunction with radio and online media.

Original Article

Frequently asked questions