Riders figure high in road trauma data

20 Apr 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: 20th April 2012

Despite accounting for only 3.8% of all registered vehicles, injuries to motorcyclists account for 20% of the Transport Accident Commission's (TAC) no-fault costs, latest TAC statistics show.

Riders make up the second highest proportion of TAC no-fault costs compared to other road users, with drivers making up about 40% and pedestrians accounting for about 15%.

The statistics are released following the death of a rider in Horsham this week, taking this year's tally of riders killed to 17, one more than the five-year average and equal to the same time last year.

In 2010/11 the TAC accepted 947 acute hospitalised claims from motorcyclists up from the five-year average of 942. Acute hospitalisation refers to hospitalisation within seven days of a collision.

Riders account for 17% of all acute hospitalised claims in 2010/11 and represented 17% of fatalities in 2011.

The TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore said the findings were concerning.

"Our claims data shows that motorcyclists are more likely to have a longer hospital stay as a result of injuries caused by a transport accident compared to other road groups," Ms Dore said.

"Because of the more serious nature of the injuries, the overall no-fault cost to the TAC is in the order of 4 to 6 times higher (per registered motorcycles >125cc) than for passenger vehicles.

The data release comes after Victoria Police detected 118 disqualified and unregistered riders during the Easter long weekend.

The police operation also detected 240 rider speeding offences and 29 riders not wearing a helmet.

"With so many injured riders needing support from the TAC, it is frustrating to see others deliberately putting themselves at risk by speeding or not wearing a helmet," Ms Dore said.

"We hope these statistics remind riders how important it is to take safety into their own hands and stay safe on the road."

TAC research into rider attitudes has revealed that 15% of motorcycle riders admit they speed all or most of the time.

"The research also showed that 24% of motorcyclists will speed if they're sure they won't get caught, with 10% having been caught speeding in the last two years."

The TAC is working to reduce rider deaths and injuries with a new campaign to be launched in coming weeks.