Improving motorcycle safety

Tasmania is a magnet for motorcycle enthusiasts, with riders taking advantage of our breathtaking scenery, winding roads, ideal riding weather – over the warmer months – and beautiful towns serving up the perfect brew. Coffee, of course. Our island state is the ideal size for riders ‘to do a lap’ over a long weekend or extended stay. It’s important that those experiencing our beautiful state can do so safely and return for repeat experiences.

Sadly, people who ride motorcycles continue to be overrepresented in the number of people killed and seriously injured on Tasmanian roads. Many of those are riders touring our state. In 2023, one in five people killed on our roads was riding a motorcycle, despite motorcycles only making up around five per cent of registered vehicles.

Recognising this disparity, the Tasmanian Government is committed to improving safety for motorcyclists through changes to motorcycle training and licensing, public education campaigns and conducting motorcycle road safety audits to identify innovative safety solutions across popular touring routes.

In recent years, the Department of State Growth has taken a closer look at our most popular touring routes. The purpose of these in-depth assessments or audits is to identify infrastructure safety treatments to improve motorcyclist safety.

These audits are facilitated by a qualified road safety auditor. What’s unique about Tasmania’s remove approach is the auditor engages with experienced motorcyclists, road managers and local stakeholders to identify solutions that improve road safety outcomes for motorcyclists. The most important aspect of theses audits is that we hear from local riders with firsthand experience riding these roads year-round.

In March 2024, the Tasman Highway between St Helens and Scottsdale underwent a comprehensive road safety audit including analysis of crash and speed data. This section of road was selected as it’s popular for those exploring the east coast. Sadly, between 2013 and 2023 one motorcyclist was killed on this road and a further 23 were seriously injured.

As part of the audit, seven motorcycle riders shared their on-road experiences during a group ride of the route before engaging in a workshop with 12 additional riders and stakeholders. Insights from these engagements were pivotal in shaping the final audit report.

The audit report, currently under review by the Department of State Growth, proposes various safety enhancements for the Tasman Highway. These include improved advisory signage, chevron markers and safety barriers equipped with rub rail to protect motorcyclists should they crash. Infrastructure treatments identified by the audit are expected to commence by July 2025.

By prioritising motorcycle safety through this collaborative approach, Tasmania aims to preserve its allure for motorcyclists while ensuring every journey on our roads is as safe as it is spectacular.

You can keep up to date on motorcycle safety audits on the State Growth website.