Motorcycle riders are being urged to “gear up” in the wake of new data discovered by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) which uncovers troublesome attitudes toward speeding and protective gear.
Launching TAC’s new Gear Box campaign, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll said the annual 2021 Motorcycle Safety Monitor Report found an increase in motorbike riders who admitted to exceeding the speed limit in a 60km/h zone (41 per cent), while 45 per cent confessed to exceeding the limit in a 100km/h speed zone.
“When it comes to protective riding gear, nearly all active riders wear a helmet ‘all the time’ (96 per cent),” Mr Carroll said.
“However, the report revealed that just over half (55 per cent) of respondents are wearing proper motorcycle riding pants every ride, while the wearing of boots on every ride has declined (76 per cent in 2020 vs 68 per cent in 2021),” he said
“The findings come as Victorian motorcycle riders share confronting stories of when protective gear has saved their lives as part of a new campaign urging their fellow riders to gear up every time they hit the road.”
Mr Carroll said The Gear Box told the story of five motorcycle riders who experienced road trauma that would have been worse, if not for their safety gear.
“At the centre of the campaign is a five-part video series that will appear across digital media, featuring stories like Steve, whose helmet saved him from a serious brain injury when he crashed while riding with friends,” the Minister said.
“The campaign also includes an in-store exhibition program at a number of motorcycle accessory retailers, which displays the actual gear these riders were wearing on the day their lives changed.”
He said the The Gear Box would be supported by the TAC’s Protect Your Entire Body on Every Ride education campaign, which is to re-run this spring.
“The hard-hitting campaign highlights the shocking injuries that motorcycle riders could avoid by wearing safety gear,” Mr Carroll said.
