Road safety authorities are urging local motorists to be on the lookout for motorcyclists, with warmer weather likely to see more riders on the state’s roads.
The Transport Accident Commission has joined with the Department of Transport and Planning, and Victoria Police, to launch Motorcyclist Awareness Month during October.
So far this year, 35 motorcyclists have died on Victorian roads, with more than a quarter of these fatalities occurring since the beginning of Spring.
This year to date, there has been five lives lost on the roads in Brimbank, one of which was a motorcyclist fatality.
With little protection, people who ride motorcycles are among the most vulnerable of road users – accounting for 17 per cent of deaths and serious injuries, despite only making up four per cent of registered vehicles.
TAC head of road safety, Samantha Cockfield, said 60 per cent of motorcyclist fatalities involve other vehicles, making it crucial for drivers to do their part in ensuring the roads are shared safely.
“Everyone needs to be aware of who they’re sharing the road with – motorcyclists are encouraged to wear appropriate protective gear, and drivers should double check for riders at intersections and when changing lanes,” she said.
“As the weather warms up and days get longer we tend to see an increase in the number of motorcyclists on our roads, however we can’t accept that more people will die as a result.”
