Powered two wheeled vehicles, which include motorcycles and scooters are a growing part of Victoria’s transport future. They are becoming a 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 per cent 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 recognised 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
- recognising 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; and
- encouraging greater use of safer motorcycles and scooters and protective clothing by riders.
A copy of the plan can be downloaded via the link below.
Victoria’s Road Safety and Transport Strategic Action Plan for Powered Two Wheelers 2009–2013 [PDF, 2,437KB, 44pp]
A hard copy is available from the VicRoads Bookshop on ph: 03 9854 2682 or can be ordered online here.
Motorcycles and scooters are becoming more popular as a mode of transport and for recreation. Registrations of
motorcycles and scooters have risen by 41 per cent since 2002. However, riders and pillion passengers are over-represented in road deaths and serious injuries. Although they make up less than one per cent of traffic on Victoria’s roads, they account for 13 per cent of deaths and serious injuries. This plan aims to address the safety and mobility needs of riders and makes a commitment to reducing motorcyclist fatalities and serious injuries, but also to ensure that powered two wheelers are given appropriate recognition in transport policy and planning.
The term refers to motorcycles, scooters and mopeds that can be registered for use as a motorcycle on Victorian roads. A moped is a motorcycle not capable of exceeding 50km/h and with an engine capacity not exceeding 50cc.
Achievements of the previous strategy include:
- treating 120 high-risk locations or popular riding routes through the Motorcycle Blackspot Program (funded by the Motorcycle Safety Levy). This has reduced casualty crashes at the first 85 sites treated by 24 per cent
- redeveloping the Victorian Rider Handbook and Motorcycle Knowledge Test
- developing a better understanding of powered two wheeler crashes and identifying trial countermeasures
- carrying out enforcement activities to address high-risk behaviours such as speeding and unlicensed riding
- developing campaigns to promote safety for riders and raise rider awareness with other road users.
An extensive consultation process was undertaken with stakeholders to ensure that safety and mobility issues were fully addressed in a more integrated approach. In the meantime the Victorian Government has continued to implement an extensive program of motorcycle initiatives.
The new strategic action plan is aligned with the Victorian Government’s road safety strategy arrive alive 2008-2017 and the Victorian Transport Plan. This plan will assist integrated delivery of key Victorian priorities of improving road safety, reducing congestion and moving towards a more sustainable and lower emission transport system.
In 2008, approximately 152,000 powered two wheelers were registered in Victoria. Around six per cent were motor
scooters or mopeds. Since 2002, there has been a 41 per cent rise in the number of motorcycles and scooters registered in Victoria.
A recent survey of riders, found that 20 per cent rode daily while a further 41 per cent rode two to five times a week. Of those surveyed, 40 per cent only rode for recreational purposes, while almost half rode for both recreation and commuting.
Riders and pillion passengers are amongst the most vulnerable of road users. On average, 44 riders are killed in Victoria each year, and a further 900 are seriously injured. Riders are 34 times more likely to sustain fatal or serious injuries per kilometre travelled than car drivers and passengers. Since implementation of the last strategy in 2002, rider and pillion passenger deaths in Victoria have decreased by 20 per cent. This goes against an upward national trend and is despite Victoria’s growth in motorcycle registrations. However, the number of riders and pillion passengers seriously injured has risen.
There are 49 actions in the plan to improve safety and mobility for riders and pillion passengers. These actions build upon the 17 listed in the first action plan of the arrive alive strategy.
Actions in the plan include:
- continuing to identify, trial and implement road treatments, products and practices to improve rider safety
- reviewing the licensing and training system
- promoting across Government the need to consider powered two wheelers in policy development and transport planning
- researching the road safety and transport impacts of road space management opportunities to identify possible initiatives for trialling
- developing, trialling and evaluating programs to improve the skills and knowledge of novice and returning riders
- implementing a community policing and education program and targeting rider and driver enforcement around crash risks
- encouraging the greater use of protective clothing.
The Motorcycle Safety Levy will fund many of the road safety actions in the plan, however the Victorian Government, through Victoria Police, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), the Department of Justice, the Department of Transport and VicRoads share responsibility for the delivery of the actions. The Motorcycle Safety Levy is included as part of the TAC premium on new motorcycle registrations and registration renewals. The levy funds a range of initiatives that address the key issues causing motorcycle trauma in Victoria. Since 1 January 2008 individual private operators who have more than one registered motorcycle only have to pay the levy on one motorcycle currently registered in their name. The TAC insurance premium, with the levy included, does not cover even the most conservative estimate of the injury costs associated with motorcycle crashes. The levy is revised each year by the Victorian Government based on the Consumer Price Index.
The Victorian Motorcycle Advisory Council (VMAC), which is made up of representatives of the powered two wheeler industry and community, made a significant contribution to this new action plan.
A feature in rolling out the new plan will be to communicate with powered two wheeler users and the wider community. A number of motorcycle community forums will assist the process.
The 49 actions in this plan build upon the 17 relating to motorcyclists from the first action plan of the arrive alive strategy. This plan contains actions for the next three years (2009-11). Progress will be reviewed in 2011 and new actions for 2012-13 will be developed. Other actions that are deemed priorities could also be considered during 2009-11. Riders also benefit from the Victorian Government’s ongoing funding of road safety and infrastucture improvements.
As with Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy: arrive alive 2008-2017, the new strategic action plan relies on coordinated
partnerships between government, its agencies and the motorcycling community. Government agencies involved in delivery of the plan include Victoria Police, the Department of Transport, the Environment Protection Authority, the Transport Accident Commission, the Department of Justice and VicRoads. Achieving best practice will require wide support and involvement from other organisations including local government and RoadSafe Community Road Safety Councils, rider groups and the motorcycle and scooter industry.
Regular reporting will enable the implementation progress of initiatives to be monitored. Performance will be measured and reported through the State Government’s peak road safety and transport agencies. Six monthly reports will be provided to the Minister for Roads and Ports and VMAC and will be posted on the VicRoads website.