The key issues identified include:

• The behaviour of both riders and drivers who lack consideration for their own safety or that of other road users.
• The lack of courtesy and tolerance between road users.
• Riders need to better understand and manage road hazard risks.
• The issue of unlicensed and reckless riding.
• The need to continuously monitor and improve pre and post license rider training.
• The need for more effective distribution of safety information to riders.

1. Promote low-risk attitudes to riding.
2. Reduce the incidence and severity of multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcyclists.

Motorcycle safety
Australia is a world leader in road safety except in the area of motorcycle safety. In 2001 we were ranked 9th best out of 27 OECD nations for road safety based on the number of fatalities per registered vehicle, except in relation to motorcycles.

At the same time we were ranked 18th for motorcycle safety having recorded 6.2 fatalities per 10,000 registered motorcycles compared to the OECD average of 3.6. (ATSB, 2004)

The aim of this site is to give motorcyclists up to date information about road safety and what you can do to keep yourself safe. This section provides the latest statistics on motorcycle crashes in NSW and is based on data provided by courtesy of the RTA (2005). It includes all serious road crashes reported to Police for the period 2000-2004.

Each year there are over 2200 motorcycle crashes reported in NSW. They are only 4% of all road crashes, but account for 10% of all deaths and 7% of all injuries on our roads. There is some evidence that motorcycle safety is improving. See Motorcycle crashes in NSW for more information.

Riders in NSW

The number of motorcycles on the road in NSW has increased by over 50% over the past ten years, from 74,000 in 1995 to over 111,253 in 2005.

The average age of motorcyclists has also increased due to a substantial increase in the numbers of older riders. The average age of a motorcyclist in NSW in 2005 is 41 years.

Older riders (40 years +) now comprise 52% of registered owners in NSW compared with 31% in 1995. This is in sharp contrast to the reduction in the number of young riders (Under 26), who now represent only 7% of registered owners of motorcycles. The graph below illustrates the changing trend in registrations.

More bikes, but not more crashes!   The increase in the number of motorcycles on the roads in NSW, has not led to a corresponding increase in motorcycle crashes. The overall crash rate has dropped from 269 per 10,000 registered motorcycles in 2000 to 221 in 2004, and the fatality rate is the lowest it has been at 5.8 per 10,000 registered motorcycles. This is still much higher than the rate of 1.9 for all vehicles, While the roads in NSW appear to becoming safer for motorcyclists, riders still need to take particular care at intersections, where more than half of all crashes occur.