Canberra’s motorists have been urged to let all road users share the road as part of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week, this week.
Minister for Road Safety, Shane Rattenbury said motorcyclists were considered ‘vulnerable road users’ in the ACT, and were over-represented in crash statistics.
Mr Rattenbury said 30 per cent of all fatal crashes between 2007 and 2016 involved a motorcycle.
“Every life matters, and road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“Vision Zero can be summarised simply: no loss of life on our roads is acceptable,” he said.
“Our road safety responsibilities cut both ways.”
Mr Rattenbury said that while motorcyclists were encouraged to keep their skills up to date and attend regular rider training sessions, other drivers need to share the road to help keep vulnerable road users safe.
“We as a community should not have to endure the heartbreak associated with road trauma – but it means we need all Canberrans to take their road safety responsibilities seriously,” he said.
He said Caberrans should share the road and look out for vulnerable road users when changing lanes or making turns and provide greater following distances when behind a motorbike.
Mr Rattenbury also reminded road users that motorcyclists were permitted to lane filter and may appear between vehicles stopped at traffic lights.
