All you need to know about staying safe on your motorbike, plus the latest regulatory updates
The owners of more than 200,000 registered motorcycles in Victoria ride a motorcycle or moped/Vespa as a quick and fun way of getting around. Motorcycles and moped/Vespas are usually cheaper than a car to buy and run, can be fun to ride, and offer benefits in the congested inner city to filter through slow-moving traffic and park close to your destination.
However, riders are more vulnerable than people in cars. A small mistake between the drivers of two vehicles may be some dented panels when both are cars, but it is life-threatening and life-changing when one of the vehicles is a motorcycle.
In 2018, RACV undertook market research with nearly 600 Victorian on-road motorcyclists to better understand riders and their issues and concerns.
The research found that fun (45 per cent) and freedom (14 per cent) are the main reasons people ride.
That was significantly higher than avoiding traffic congestion (7 per cent) and ease of getting around (6 per cent), despite that being a significant advantage of riding a motorcycle or scooter.
The market research found that the biggest issues for riders were poor driving or a lack of awareness and respect for riders (18 per cent), and motorists not paying attention or being distracted (14 per cent).
When presented with a list of more than 30 barriers, concerns and frustrations about riding, the biggest concerns were:
Despite public commentary about wire-rope crash barriers, only one-third selected wire-rope barriers as a concern. Less than one-quarter selected the TAC motorcycle levy and only one-fifth thought roadside barriers were too close to lanes.
The research found that riders believe the top three actions to address these issues are more driver education and safety reminders, more education and practice for learners, and better road maintenance.
RACV supports there being more education and reminders about road rules, and better road maintenance across Victoria. RACV has been vocal on these issues.
One of the common complaints RACV hears about motorcycle riders is that they ride between cars. It’s important that car, truck and bus drivers learn that when traffic speeds are less than 30kmh, this type of riding by fully licensed riders, called ‘filtering’, is legal.
Weaving through traffic at higher speeds, called ‘lane splitting’, is illegal. There are rules about when and where riders can safely and legally filter. Drivers need to look carefully for riders when changing lanes, in all traffic conditions.
RACV supports all road users responsibly ‘sharing the road’, which includes obeying the road rules and applying the courtesies and behaviours that make travel safer even when someone makes a mistake. For more information on the road rules that apply to drivers travelling near motorcycle riders, see the section sharing the road with motorcycles. For a summary of the additional rules that apply to motorcyclists riding on roads, see road rules for motorcycle riders.
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