Australia’s National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010 aims to dramatically reduce death and injury on Australian roads. The National Strategy has set the target of a 40% reduction in the fatality rate by the end of 2010. The South Australian Strategic Plan reflects this target. Motorcycle riders are especially at risk — on a per kilometer travelled basis, they are 30 times more likely to be killed on our roads! Riders younger than 40 are at even greater risk. The trend in fatalities suggests that motorcycling safety is lagging behind improvements for other road users. And compared with overseas countries, Australia’s motorcycle safety record is poor — we have nearly twice the fatality rate of other OECD countries. The South Australian Road Safety Strategy 2003-2010, released in September 2003, outlined a series of directions for this State to achieve the national target of a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries which is expected to come from the following measures: • SAFER ROADS – improving roads and roadsides and addressing issues at specific locations • SAFER PEOPLE – ensuring road users have the necessary attitude and skills; ensuring compliance with legislation (in particular, speeding, drink driving and nonuse of restraints); and educating all road users • SAFER VEHICLES – promoting new vehicle safety standards and technology Motorcyclists and their pillion passengers are especially vulnerable in crashes. The only protection available to motorcyclists is the helmet; as a consequence, the severity of crashes is greater. The South Australian Motorcycling Road Safety Strategy has been developed in conjunction with the Motorcycle Task Force to provide a coordinated approach to motorcycle safety in order to reduce the incidence and severity of motorcycle crashes on our roads. This strategy sets out the goals for improving motorcycle safety in South Australia for the period 2005 – 2010 and has assigned priorities to the various initiatives. (Author/publisher)
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