Increasing number Victorian motorbike riders okay with speeding

Published date: 03 Mar 2020

An increasing number of Victorian motorbike riders believe they should be able to exceed speed limits, according to the latest Transport Accident Commission survey of Victorian riders.

The TAC’s latest Motorcycle Monitor, which surveyed 2443 motorcycle licence holders, shows the number of riders who are happy to ride within the speed limit continues to decline.

The findings revealed just 33 per cent of respondents believed speeding in a 100km/h zone was unacceptable, a proportion which has declined from 46 per cent in 2014.

In 60km/h zones, only 41 per cent of active riders agreed with a ‘low tolerance’ approach to speeding, down from 58 per cent in 2014.

The annual survey also showed that the changing attitudes to speed limits is reflected in reported rider behaviour, with 53 per cent of riders admitting to ever speeding in 60 zones, up from 31 per cent in 2014, and 58 per cent in 100 zones, compared with 38 per cent five years earlier.

In the past five years, inappropriate speeds have contributed to 43 per cent of motorcycle rider and pillion fatalities on Victorian roads.

With the popular ‘riding season’ still in full swing, the TAC will re-launch its Perfect Ride campaign in March, highlighting key safety issues that recreational riders encounter including speed, cornering, road positioning, road surfaces, foreign objects and other road users.

The TAC will also be at the World Superbikes Championships at Phillip Island this weekend, speaking with the riders about best preparation, encouraging riders to wear full protective clothing and highlighting the benefits of having a motorcycle with ABS.

Other key Motorcycle Monitor findings include:

  • 96% of riders agree that riding with an illegal BAC is dangerous (an increase from 92% in 2015)
  • 94% of riders agree that drowsy riding is dangerous (up from 88% in 2015)
  • 91% believe riding after taking a small amount of alcohol with prescription drugs with alcohol is dangerous (up from 85% in 2015)
  • Two-thirds of those who always wear a helmet will always wear a full-face helmet
  • 51% of the time was spent riding on roads with speed limits of 80km/h or more

Full survey results can be found here.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Minister for Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford

“Speed kills, whether you are on two wheels or four, and motorbike riders are more vulnerable when things go wrong because of their lack of protection.”

“We are asking all road users to slow down and look out for each other because we can never value a couple of minutes in reduced travel time ahead of our lives and the lives of others.”

Quotes attributable to Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore

“Last year, 44 Victorians were killed in motorcycle crashes so it’s hard to fathom that an increasing proportion of riders don’t see the dangers in pushing the limits.”

“We know most people do the right thing on the roads but it only takes one small mistake for a tragedy to occur, and at high speeds with less protection, the stakes are always higher.”

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