Photo: stock / freepik
A record death toll for motorcycle riders on NSW roads is prompting the state government to call a safety roundtable in Sydney.
The government says deaths are at a 10-year high; last year, there were 16 more deaths involving riders and passengers (68 in total) compared to 2023.
Already this year (as of March 27), 23 motorcyclists have died, nine more than for the same period last year.
The roundtable will be held on April 29 and involve rider groups, academics, motorcycle experts, government agencies and others.
They will examine challenges in improving safety and specifically what can be done in areas such as licensing, training, vehicle safety, infrastructure and protective gear use.
EARLIER: Regional road death toll worrying Victorian police
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison says the rise in motorcycle deaths is “alarming”.
“Every death on our roads is one too many and we’re determined to do more to save lives of all road users, particularly those who are more vulnerable like motorcyclists,” she says.
The minister highlighted the state’s first Road Safety Forum last year and their efforts to help including running an average speed camera trial for light vehicles, switching on mobile seatbelt offence detection cameras and boosting the road safety budget to $2.8 billion.
“We know there’s more to do and we want to work with the community to come up with the right solutions to the challenges we face,” Aitchison says.
“I want to … remind motorcyclists that if you’re riding, you should always stay within the speed limit, watch out for oncoming traffic, curves, and very importantly – make sure you’re wearing safe helmets and gear.
“For other motorists, please be mindful, give motorcyclists space and check your blind spots when merging in traffic or crossing lanes.”
Motorcycle Council of NSW Chairman, Vincent Buck welcomed news of the roundtable.
“Motorcyclists are not only our friends, family, and loved ones, but valued members of our community,” he said.
“We are committed to ensuring that decisions made as a result of these discussions prioritise their safety. Our goal is to make NSW roads as safe as possible for riders and all road users alike.”
Road safety advocate Heidi Haydon said she understood from experience how important it is to stay safe on the roads.
“Having survived a crash and spending time in rehabilitation, I understand the impacts of serious injuries for our riders,” she said.
“Having a roundtable dedicated to discussing what we can do to improve this is very positive.”
FIGURES
According to government:
- The number of motorcycle riders aged 16-25 years who died on NSW roads rose from 12 in 2023 to 21 in 2024.
- Novice rider deaths (including learner or provisional licence holders) rose year-on-year from nine in 2023 to 14 in 2024.
- The hospitalisation of riders rose 10 per cent in the 12 months to June 2024; 2846 motorcyclists were admitted to hospital, up 248 on the 12 months before that.
- In 2024, riders made up almost 20 per cent of all road deaths in NSW with 57 per cent of those deaths in regional areas.
