The relatively high risk to motorcycle riders of serious and fatal injury, compared with other road users, is a significant road safety issue. Trends in motorcycle fatalities over the decade to 2001 suggest improvement in the safety of motorcyclists has been lagging that of other road users. Motorcycle rider fatalities only decreased by 6 per cent between 1991 and 2001 compared with an 18 per cent reduction in the overall road toll, from 2113 to 1736. Australia's motorcycle safety record compares relatively poorly with other OECD nations as a whole. This report examines the trends in Australia associated with motorcycle rider fatalities and compares the risk of fatal injury to motorcycle riders among different age groups, particularly older riders. The report only uses data relating to motorcycle operator (rider) fatalities where the rider is aged 17 years and over and where the fatal injury occurred on a public road or related area. It excludes motorcycle passenger fatalities and cases where age is unknown. (Author/publisher)
Abstract