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Motorcycle safety

Motorcycle riders have a higher risk of serious and fatal injury. Motorbike riders, cyclists pedestrians and motorists all need to share the road.

There's a lot you can do to avoid accidents

Motorcycle riders are 29 times more likely to die in an accident or be fatally injured than drivers travelling the same distance.

In the Cumberland City Council area, motorcycle crashes represented 12.3% of all casualties. Over the last 3 years, there were 3 motorcycle fatalities and 140 serious injuries. 76% of all motorcycle crashes were multi-vehicle crashes and 24% single-vehicle crashes.

Exercise caution at T junctions as 36.4% of all motorcycle crashes occur there.

What you can do as a rider

  • Wear standards approved helmets and wear suitable protective clothing.
  • Merge and change lanes carefully: Head checks, mirrors and indicate.
  • Remember to cancel your indicator after turning/changing lanes.
  • Position yourself: Ride to be seen, not in blind spots.
  • Expect the unexpected. Scan – Anticipate – Respond.
  • Never assume you have been seen by other road users.
  • Be prepared to take evasive actions.
  • Look where you want to go. Your bike will go where your eyes go.
  • Buffer: Give cars plenty of space - keep at least 3 second gap.
  • Ride at a safe speed. Slow down for poor road and weather conditions.
  • Brief pillions on road safety.
  • Check your bike before every ride.
  • Don’t ride upset, angry or in a hurry.
  • Know yours and your bike limits. Ride your own ride.
  • Avoid loaning your motorcycle to the unlicensed and inexperienced.

What you can do as a driver

  • Look twice for bikes: Front, rear, left and right especially at intersections.
  • Check blind spots: Look in mirrors and over your shoulder.
  • Never assume motorcyclists can stop quickly or swerve easily to avoid you.
  • Change lanes carefully - look and indicate.
  • Give motorcyclists plenty of space - keep a 3 second gap.
  • Use lights in poor visibility.
  • Drive at a safe speed.
  • Slow down for poor road and weather conditions.

How we can help

Contact our Road Safety Officer via email rso@cumberland.nsw.gov.au to let us know about problems with roads, and find out more about how we’re committed to improving motorbike safety in the Cumberland region.