Unlicensed Riders
The proportion of unlicenced riders involved in crashes has halved over the past 5 years, from 8% in 2000 to just 4% of all riders in crashes in 2004. This group includes those riders whose licence has been cancelled or disqualified as well as those who have never obtained a motorcycle licence. Almost two thirds of unlicensed riders in crashes are young, 37% are under 21 and another 23% are aged 21-25 years. Over the past 5 years (2000-04), 634 unlicensed riders have been involved in motorcycle crashes in NSW. The majority (60%) were under 26 years of age. - Unlicensed riders comprise 6% of riders involved in crashes but these include 13% of all fatalities and 10% of all pillion casualties.
- Unlicensed riders accounted for 24% of all riders in crashes who had an illegal alcohol reading. More than one in five (23%) of all unlicensed riders in crashes had an illegal alchol reading compared to 4% of all licensed riders.
- A third (33%) of all unlicensed riders were involved in speed related crashes compared with 23% of all riders.
- One in four unlicense riders (25%) were not wearing a helmet, or wore a helmet that was not correctly fastened, when they crashed. They represented 45% of censed riders were involved in 6% of all crashes between 2000-20all unhelmeted riders.
- Unlicensed riders were almost twice as likely to have a pillion passenger who was injured when they crashed (11% compared to 6% of licensed riders).
The situation does appear to be improving and the proportion of unlicensed riders in crashes has halved in the past five years from 8% in 2000 to just 4% in 2004. Unlicensed riding is more of a social problem than it is a specific motorcycling problem. The increased incidence of risk taking behaviour amongst unlicensed motorcycle riders also occurs amongst unlicensed car drivers. Although unlicensed drivers are a small minority amongst drivers, 12% of all speeding drivers in fatal crashes were unlicensed [RTA, Speed: Speed Problem Definition and Countermeasures Summary, 2000]. | Rider factors in crashes | All riders in crashes | Licensed riders in crashes (n=7014) | Unlicensed riders in crashes (n=545) | Unknown licence status (n=1513) | | All crashes | 100% | 77% | 6% | 17% | | Alcohol | 5% | 4% | 23% | 7% | | Fatigue | 6% | 5% | 10% | 7% | | Speed | 24% | 23% | 33% | 22% | | No helmet | 3% | 1% | 25% | 5% | | Age under 26 | 30% | 27% | 60% | 34% | | Age over 40 | 25% | 28% | 7% | 7% | | Pillion casualty | 6% | 6% | 11% | 6% |
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