Motorcyclists, including scooter riders, are over-represented in road trauma ― they are nearly 30 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than other vehicle drivers for the same distance traveled.
Each year in South Australia, motorcycle rider fatalities make up around 19%of all vehicle operator fatalities and 12% of all road user fatalities.
Figure 1 shows the number of motorcycle riders and pillion passengers killed on South Australian roads each year since 1981. Over this period, 639 motorcyclists have been killed. The lowest yearly total recorded for motorcycle fatalities over this period was eight in 2007.
Motorcyclists and motorcycle pillion passenger fatalities, 1981-2007
While crashes involving motorcycles have generally decreased in South Australia since the 1980s, motorcyclists remain over-represented in fatal and serious casualty crashes. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that motorcyclists account for less than 1% of all vehicle travel in South Australia, and yet 12%of all fatal and serious casualties are motorcyclists or pillion passengers.
Five year trend, 2003-2007
On average over the 5-year period, 2003-2007, there were around 169 motorcycle riders killed or seriously injured per year. Of these:
- 94% were male
- 56% of serious casualties occurred in the metropolitan region of Adelaide
- 53% occurred on roads signposted at 50 or 60km/h
- 5% were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash
- 37% of serious casualties occurred on Saturday and Sunday
- 42% were as a result of hitting a fixed object type or rolling over
- 28% were a result of right turn or right angle crashes.
Age
The number of motorcycle serious casualties reached its highest level in 2006.
| Motorcycle rider serious casualties by age, South Australia, 1995-2007 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 16-25 | 26-39 | 40+ | Total |
| 1995 | 76 | 64 | 21 | 161 |
| 1996 | 72 | 80 | 45 | 197 |
| 1997 | 60 | 57 | 30 | 147 |
| 1998 | 55 | 65 | 44 | 164 |
| 1999 | 47 | 56 | 33 | 136 |
| 2000 | 67 | 67 | 47 | 181 |
| 2001 | 58 | 69 | 52 | 179 |
| 2002 | 43 | 76 | 56 | 175 |
| 2003 | 38 | 74 | 54 | 166 |
| 2004 | 54 | 65 | 59 | 178 |
| 2005 | 40 | 50 | 58 | 147 |
| 2006 | 60 | 82 | 69 | 211 |
| 2007 | 39 - 24% | 48 - 29% | 76 - 47% | 163 |
Serious casualties among riders 16 to 25 years decreased over the period, from an average of 62 (1995-1999) to 39 in 2007.
Serious casualties among riders 26 to 39 years also decreased over the period, from an average of 64 (1995-1999) to 48 in 2007.
Figure 2 shows the upward trend in serious casualties among riders 40 years and over. Serious casualties among this older rider group grew from an average of 35 (1995-1999) to 76 in 2007.
Motorcycle rider serious casualties by age, South Australia, 1995-2007
In 2007, the older rider group (40 years and over) now has the highest absolute number of serious casualties compared to the other age groups. Serious casualties among older riders have increased substantially as a proportion of all rider serious casualties in the last decade. In 1995, older rider fatalities comprised 13% of all motorcycle rider fatalities, while in 2007 this had risen to 47%.
Research by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) suggests that nationally there are now fewer younger riders, riding fewer kilometres per year relative to riders aged over 25 years. Indeed, the exposure risk of younger riders has fallen steadily across the last decade and crash involvement has fallen proportionally. This suggests that older rather than younger riders may present a greater crash-reduction challenge to road safety.
Gender
The overwhelming majority of motorcycle rider casualties are male. Males comprise 94% of rider casualties compared to 65% of car driver casualties in South Australia. The proportion of women among car driver casualties has been increasing over recent years, whereas there has been no change in their contribution to motorcycle casualties.
Pillion Passengers
On average there are 14 pillion passengers killed or seriously injured per year.
The number of killed or injured riders carrying pillion passengers was consistent across all ages, not necessarily just young riders.
Currently learner riders are not permitted to carry a pillion passenger unless the passenger holds a current full motorcycle licence (also excludes passengers who hold a provisional licence), however P plate riders are.
SA comparison to other states
In 2007, motorcycle riders and pillion passengers accounted for 6% of all road fatalities, compared with the previous five-year average of 14%. This compares with other states such as Victoria at 13%, NSW at 12%, Queensland at 16% and Western Australia at 14%.
Figure 3 shows the fatality rate per 10,000 registered motorcycles for each state and territory.
Motorcycle fatality rate per 10,000 registered vehicles, 2005-2007
South Australia has a slightly lower fatality rate than the average for Australia.
Is the popularity of motorcycles increasing?
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found that the popularity of motorcycle riding appeared to be increasing since a decrease in the late 1980s. The number of registered motorcycles Australia-wide increased by 24% between 1991 and 2001. Since 2001, the number of registered motorcycles in Australia has risen another 46% (2007).
South Australia did not follow the national trend during the 1990s and instead the number of motorcycles registered decreased. However in the last 4 years since 2003, there has been a 32% increase in the number of motorcycles on register, from 28,000 in 2003 to 37,000 in 2007.
Average number of motorcycles registered for the 12 months, South Australia, 2001-2007*
| Year | Motorcycles registered |
| 2001 | 28 000 |
| 2002 | 28 000 |
| 2003 | 28 000 |
| 2004 | 29 000 |
| 2005 | 31 000 |
| 2006 | 34 000 |
| 2007 | 37 000 |
*Data taken from Road Safety Research and Analysis Report Monograph 20: Fatal and serious road crashes involving motorcyclists, April 2008 by ATSB (independent body within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government).
Is the safety of motorcycle riders decreasing?
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government also found nationally that:
- Over the last five years (2003-2007) numbers of motorcyclist deaths have increased at an average annual rate of 3.6% while car driver deaths and increased by only 0.4% per year.
- The majority of the increase has come from single vehicle motorcycle only crashes
- An analysis of the age distribution of motorcyclists killed shows that over the last ten years, riders aged over 44 years accounted for most of the annual increase in deaths.
- Approximately 20% of motorcycle fatalities did not have a valid motorcycle licence.
- 10% of motorcycle fatalities were not wearing a helmet while another 20% were wearing an incorrectly fitted helmet.
The South Australian Motorcycling Road Safety Strategy 2005-2010 was developed to provide a coordinated approach to motorcycle safety, in order to reduce the incidence and severity of motorcycle crashes on our roads.
What the law says
Motorcycle riders must obey the road rules just as drivers of other vehicles do. You can read about these rules in The Driver’s Handbook.
Motorcycle riders must have the appropriate licence or learner's permit. RiderSafe training is required as part of the process of obtaining a South Australian motor cycle permit or licence. RiderSafe provides a variety of motor cycles and scooters to cater for different riding requirements. Existing riders who wish to update their riding skills may attend a RiderSafe session.
Under the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS), new riders are restricted to riding motorcycles, including scooters, to those with an engine capacity less than 660cc and with a power to weight ratio less than 150 kilowatts per tonne.
Because motorcycle riders are less protected than car drivers, they have a greater chance of being killed or injured in a crash. The law requires all motorcyclists to wear helmets and they should also wear protective clothing, particularly with bright colours to make them more easily seen. Riding with headlights switched on can also improve motorcyclists’ safety.
Penalties
For riding without a valid licence or permit, you can be fined up to $2500 for a first offence, and up to $5000 or one year in prison for a subsequent offence.
There is also an offence of r riding without an approved helmet (or a passenger riding without an approved helmet).
Links
Vic Safety tips for motorcyclists
Motorcycle Riders Association of South Australia