New campaign to keep motorcycle riders safe

31 Oct 2016

The Andrews Labor Government and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) have unveiled the latest campaign to reduce motorcyclist deaths and injuries as figures show rider fatalities have nearly doubled in 2016.

The campaign is part of Victoria’s response to rising motorcyclist fatalities, with 45 riders killed so far this year, up from 25 at the same time last year.

It is designed to reduce collisions between motorcycles and other vehicles – which account for more than half of rider fatalities.

A television advertisement depicts the moments after a motorcycle collides with a right-turning vehicle after the driver fails to see the rider.

Under the tagline ‘Driver think rider. Rider think driver’, the campaign encourages riders and drivers to share responsibility for keeping each other safe.

It comes after Victoria Police increased its focus on rider behaviour in response to the rise in rider deaths.

The Labor Government and the TAC also recently announced $12 million for extra shifts for Victoria Police which will see more marked police cars patrolling the state’s roads and highways, targeting speed and drink driving – especially on rural roads, where the majority of the deaths have occurred.

The campaign will launch on Victorian television screens, radios and billboards today and will run throughout November, ahead of summer when the number of riders out on the state’s roads increases sharply.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan

“We can’t accept any deaths on our roads, but to have had 45 riders die already this year is an absolute tragedy.”

“Riders will come off second best in a collision with another vehicle so it is critical that drivers are always on the lookout for motorcycles, and riders can help by ensuring they are visible to drivers.”

Quotes attributable to the Transport Accident Commission CEO Joe Calafiore

“We are instinctively good at looking out for things that could hurt us but those instincts aren’t as strong when it comes to looking for things that we could hurt.”

“We are asking every road user – whether you’re on two wheels or four – to do everything possible to look out for each other on the roads.”