Motorcycle safety

When you’re riding a motorcycle, you’re 20 times more likely to be killed in a crash than vehicle occupants.

You’re more exposed and vulnerable in traffic and are at risk of more serious injury if involved in a crash.

Learning skills such as scanning, setting up and buffering in traffic as well as safe cornering can save your life. More than 50 per cent of motorcycle rider deaths occur on bends.

Click on the navigation link to Riding tips (below left) for more on scanning, setting up and buffering.

With motorcycling more popular than ever, saving riders lives and preventing injuries is a critical road safety challenge.

The RTA, with strong support from the Motorcycle Council, has developed a package of measures aimed at improving motorcycle safety. The package includes:

• Statewide advertising campaigns jointly funded by the RTA and the Motor Accidents Authority. The campaigns target both rider behaviour and the awareness of other vehicle drivers of motorcycle riders.
• New signage on popular scenic routes in NSW where motorcycle accidents occur more frequently including the Royal National Park, Putty Road and the famous Wollombi Loop north of Sydney.
• An ongoing RTA research program into the causes of motorcycle crashes.

Learner and provisional rider conditions

To reduce the death and injury of young people on our roads the NSW Government introduced a range of new initiatives on 1 July 2007.

Changes include:

• Licence suspension for any speeding offence for P1 provisional riders.
  As a provisional rider you will receive a minimum of four demerit points and have your licence suspended for at least three months if you speed on or after 1 July 2007. A fine is also payable. So please slow down.
• A ban on all mobile phone use for learner and provisional riders.
  You must not use any function of a mobile phone while riding. This includes phones in the hands-free mode or with the loudspeaker operating, or sending SMS (text) messages. The penalty for mobile phone use is three demerit points and a fine. So switch your phone off.