As of 9 November 2009 there are three new rules for motorcyclists.

• No passengers under eight years old. A young child under eight years of age can’t be carried as a passenger on a motorcycle, unless in a sidecar.
• Travelling in a sidecar. When a sidecar is used, it can only carry the number of passengers for which it is designed.
• No animals between rider and handlebars. Animals can’t be carried between the rider and the handlebars. There is an exemption for farmers. While working, a farmer can carry an animal between the rider and the handlebars for up to 500 metres on a road.

Motorcyclists are vulnerable on our roads, Statistics highlight the dangers:

• Around 850 motorcyclists are killed or seriously injured each year in Victoria. Motorcycle riders and pillion passengers accounted for 11 percent of road fatalities in 2004 (even though motorcycles are only 3 percent of all vehicles registered in Victoria).
• On Melbourne’s arterial roads, riders are 30 times more likely than car drivers to be involved in serious casualty or fatal crashes.

To reduce your likelihood of being a statistic, follow these tips for survival and remember to wear the right gear.

Tips for survival
There are tips for survival and how to be a better rider explained in The Right Line [PDF, 3194kb, 11pp].

1. Staying out of trouble
2. Riding curves
3. Dealing with intersections
4. Keeping your survival space
5. Riding for the conditions
6. Staying alert

Wear the right stuff
For a guide for choosing the best protective gear see The Right Stuff [PDF, 1874kb, 7pp]

No one can predict every single event on the road, but if you are involved in a crash you can do a lot to keep injuries to a minimum by wearing 'the right stuff' whenever you ride. Remember pillion passengers should be as well protected as you are.

Good quality protective clothing can appear expensive but compared to the pain and discomfort of even simple injuries like 'gravel rash', the cost is greatly outweighed by the protection provided.

Helmets
A helmet will save your life in most circumstances.

• Riders and pillions must wear an approved helmet with a sticker showing the Australian Standard AS 1698. A face shield or visor must meet the Australian Standard AS 1609.
• Replace your helmet if it has sustained an impact, such as during an accident or a drop onto bitumen.
• Never lend or borrow a helmet.
• Never buy one second hand. You won't know how it's been treated, or if it's sustained unseen damage.

Choosing a helmet
When choosing a helmet, try several on and spend as much as you can afford. Helmets range in price and construction, so spend time choosing the best protection, the best fit and most comfortable style for you.

Type of helmets
You can choose between:

• A full face style which has a chin bar to cover the lower face and jaw.
• Open face style helmet which leaves your face exposed. Note: most open face helmets offer no eye defence, so riders could get hit by a rock or large bug in the eye causing injury or a loss of control; even rain can cause pain, and difficulty in seeing clearly.

Helmet fit
Fit your helmet carefully, by following these steps:

1. With the helmet on, place your hands on the sides of the helmet and move it around - you should feel your skin move with the helmet.
2. Then move your head from side to side, the helmet should move with you, without feeling loose on your head.
3. Finally, wear the helmet for a few minutes to make sure it's comfortable.

Gloves and boots
Don’t forget gloves and boots. In a crash it's not unusual for the hands and feet to flap about uncontrollably, striking the bitumen many times. Countless riders have survived a crash with almost no injuries except severe skin loss and lacerations to the hands and feet.

When choosing gloves, keep the following tips in mind:

• Pick the ones that are going to suit the type of riding you plan on doing, for example consider weather conditions, racing versus recreational riding and so on.
• Make sure they fit comfortably to improve your grip on the handlebars.
• Tight gloves may restrict circulation, causing your hands to become cold.
• Bulky gloves may create problems in operating the motorcycle controls.

Motorcycle boots provide important protection for the feet, ankles and the lower legs, and are heavily reinforced in the areas which sustain most stress and injury. This is especially important in a crash as riders often trap their feet under the motorcycle as it slides along the road. Motorcycle boots are also designed to remain secure on the feet, where other types of footwear frequently come off in crashes.

Remember motorcycle boots are purpose made equipment. Any other footwear will not provide the same level of protection.

Jackets, pants and suits
The most common material used for protective clothing is leather, and in terms of abrasion resistance, very little can match it. There are other synthetic materials on the market which offer abrasion resistance as well as weather protection. These are valid alternatives to leather. Many jackets and pants of both synthetic and leather construction now come with impact absorbing inserts, and even spine protectors.

When choosing clothing, comfort and function are important. Make sure that when you're seated in a riding position, the material doesn't bunch up and restrict blood flow. Importantly make sure that whatever clothing you choose, it is made specifically for motorcycle use only.