Motorcycle Safety

To address the increasing trend in motorcycle and scooter involvement in serious crashes the RAC, on behalf of the Road Safety Council, recently hosted a series of Motorcycle & Scooter Safety Action Group (MSSAG) forums.

To ensure all aspects of road safety were fully explored - safe road use, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles and safe speed - representatives from key government agencies, motorcycle and scooter riders and general community members were invited to participate in the series of three forums based on the successful and efficient Swedish ‘OLA’ process.

The involvement of all stakeholders provided the opportunity to address the issue using the safe system framework and did not focus solely on safe road use solutions.

Three forums were held with details as follows:

  • The first forum was held on Friday 3 April and Saturday 4 April 2009 and focused on gathering objective data, including facts, statistics, relevant research, behavioural studies, etc.
  • The second forum was held on Saturday 23 May 2009 and focused on planning and development to come up with a list of potential solutions/actions. The findings were then analysed and refined to produce a shorter list of practical solutions which can be implemented by a wide range of stakeholders in the short and long term to address the motorcycle and scooter safety issues identified throughout the forums.
  • The third and final forum was held on Saturday August 15 2009. The agreed actions from the forum, based on the safe system approach can be viewed at http://www.ors.wa.gov.au/documents/MotorcycleForumActionsListFinal.pdf.  

Key statistics and information

The Road Safety Council addresses road safety for motorcyclists through its safe system approach – safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, safe speeds and safe road use. The Council also:

  • Runs regular campaigns on the dangers of speeding, drink driving and fatigue to encourage safer rider behaviour;
  • Makes recommendations to improve road infrastructure to reduce the impact and severity of crashes;
  • Encourages industry to create safer vehicles that reduce impacts to other road users like pedestrians and motorcyclists; and
  • Encourages all road users to be aware of the road conditions.

Statistics:

  • In 2008 there were 36 motorcycle fatalities.
  • 30% of motorcyclists and pillion passengers involved in police reported crashes in Western Australia in 2007 were seriously injured (killed or hospitalised.) For drivers and passengers of cars the figure was 3%.
  • There was an average of 60 serious crashes per 10,000 registered motorcycles in Western Australia over the period 1998-2007. The equivalent figure for passenger vehicles was 19.8 serious crashes.
  • Between 2003 and 2007 single vehicle crashes represented about 33% of all motorcycle crashes and tended to be the more serious, just under 40% involving serious injury.
  • About 61% of motorcycle crashes involved another vehicle, mainly passenger vehicles.
  • 88% of motorcyclists involved in serious crashes between 2003 and 2007 were male.
  • Riders 21-29 years of age accounted for 27% of serious injuries.
  • Riders over 30 years of age, accounted for 56% of those seriously injured.
  • Just over a third (34%) of crashes were at a relatively low speed, 30 – 50km/h on impact.

Crash Profile (Source: Unpublished preliminary date, Office of Road Safety. Taken from the Integrated Road Information system, Main Roads Western Australia (2008).

Links

New materials

New resources have been finalised as part of the various actions agreed upon at the Motorcycle & Scooter Safety Action Group forums.  

Brochure

Poster

Motorcycle and Scooter Maintenance Checklist

Braking Habits - motorcycle handbook

Last modified 27-05-2011 02:35 PM