• People who ride motorcycles and scooters are among the most vulnerable road users in a crash.
• Motorcycles only make up 4% of registered vehicles, however riders account for 17% of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
• In 2020, 33 motorcyclists died on our roads, compared to 44 in 2019.
• Around 60% of motorcyclist deaths in 2019 involved another vehicle.
• Men make up 97% of motorcyclist deaths.
• People riding motorcycles are more vulnerable as they don’t have the protection a vehicle provides in a crash.
• When you wear protective clothing you are much less likely to be seriously injured in a crash.
• If you are riding a motorcycle with ABS you will be less likely to die in a crash.

Travelling by motorcycle or scooter can be enjoyable however it's important to know how to protect yourself and any pillion passengers before you ride.

If you ride a motorcycle, you can increase your safety on the road by:

• Wearing your protective clothing every time you ride. Buy the best gear you can afford and ensure your helmet is up to scratch.
• Making yourself visible by wearing light-coloured clothing or reflective gear
• Purchasing a motorcycle with ABS
• Riding within the speed limit
• Checking out the online hazard perception training tool at Ride Smart Online.
• Stay up to date with the latest gear and bikes by visiting spokes.com.au and signing up for the Spokes newsletter.

If you’re a driver, you can avoid a crash with a person on a motorcycle by:

• Being aware of people riding motorcycles on the road
• look and look again for motorcycles at intersections
• always doing a head check before changing lanes.

Important motorcycle safety features

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) has the potential to significantly reduce serious motorcycle crashes. During an emergency braking situation if your motorbike doesn’t have ABS the wheels can lock up, causing the motorcycle to skid or slide out from under you.

A bike with ABS has electronic sensors to detect lock-up before it occurs, applying just the right amount of pressure to maximise braking performance. ABS offers significant safety benefits to riders and can reduce braking distance and increase stability.

Research into motorcycle ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) has found that fatal motorcycle crashes per 10,000 registered vehicles were 37% lower for ABS models than non-ABS models.

• The Motorcycle Safety Levy (MSL) is collected as part of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) premium in registrations for motorcycles with an engine capacity of 126cc or above. The levy contributes to projects that improve the safety of people who ride motorcycles and contributes towards our goal to eliminate road deaths by 2050. Find out more on the VicRoads website
• We partner with major events including the motoGP and Superbikes to promote motorcycle safety and speak directly to the riding community about ways we are working to keep you safe on the roads.
• Our Ridesmart website is a free online tool, designed by experienced motorcycle trainers to help everyone who rides motorcycles,  including scooters, tune up your riding skills. Visit the Ridesmart website
• Take a look at our Spokes website with information specifically tailored for the motorcycling community and sign up to our Spokes newsletter if you’d like to stay up to date with the latest information and competitions. Visit the Spokes website
• TAC supports the CRASH and MotoCAP programs. CRASH tests motorcycle safety helmets and rates them for safety and comfort. MotoCAP tests motorcycle protective clothing and provides ratings for safety and breathability. These programs can help  to find the best safety gear available, and also push industry to improve the quality of their products.