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Dr Matthew Baldock (email)
Research Fellow Centre for Automotive Safety Research The University of Adelaide Business: +61 8 8303 5887 Mobile: 0427 792 592 Ms Robyn Mills (email) Media and Communications Officer The University of Adelaide Business: +61 8 8313 6341 Mobile: +61 410 689 084
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Monday, 31 May 2010 Inexperience and inadequate training before being issued a licence are among key issues in the increasing number of serious and fatal motorcycle road accidents, according to a University of Adelaide road safety researcher. Dr Matthew Baldock, Research Fellow with the University's Centre for Automotive Safety Research, says motorcyclists have a much higher risk of a serious accident than any other mode of vehicle. And those most at risk of being in an accident are new riders. "Motorcycles represent only 4.5% of registered vehicles and travel only 0.9% of the total distance travelled - but they are involved in 15% of road deaths," Dr Baldock says. "The crash risk for new riders is around double that for more experienced riders." And the situation is worsening. "There are increasing numbers of people riding motorcycles, particularly scooters and older riders - people in their 40s - taking it up," says Dr Baldock. "There are a lot more people riding motorcycles and an increasing proportion of motorcycle riders in the road toll." Dr Baldock will discuss the challenge of motorcycle road safety at a free public seminar at the Art Gallery of South Australia on Wednesday 2 June at 4pm. Dr Baldock says motorcycle riders are at greater injury risk because they are less protected than in other vehicles. But motorcycle accidents could be reduced through changes to licensing regulations including increasing the minimum age, increasing the time new riders have to spend on provisional and learner licences, increased mandatory training and no reduction in the motorcycle licensing period associated with having a car driver's licence. "When you are trying to get a motorcycle licence you do a short course and then you are out on the road by yourself as a learner. This is so different to gaining a licence to drive a car," Dr Baldock says. "And with scooters, you don't even need a specific licence, just a car licence." WHAT: CASR public lecture: `Motorcycling Issues in Road Safety' presented by Dr Matthew Baldock |
