New motorcycle protective gear requirements for L, P1 and P2 riders
High-visibility vest or jacket required for learner riders
- NSW learner riders must wear an approved high-visibility vest or jacket when riding.
- The vest or jacket must be labelled or marked by the manufacturer with one of the following standards:
- AS/NZS 4602.1:2011, class D/N
- AS 4602.1:2024, class D/N
- ISO 20471:2013
To minimise the risk of injury in a crash, riders are encouraged to wear a protective motorcycle jacket, with the required high-visibility vest or jacket worn over the top.
Protective gloves required for learner and provisional riders
- NSW learner and provisional riders (P1 and P2) must wear approved protective gloves when riding.
- Gloves must be labelled or marked by the manufacturer with the European Standard:
- EN 13594:2015
Penalties
If you are a NSW learner or provisional rider, you must wear the required protective gear every time you ride. Failure to comply with this requirement is an offence and will incur fines and demerit points.
Find out more about Protective gear requirements for learner and provisional riders.
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 15.7 % of all casualties. Over the last 5 years, there were 5 fatalities and 110 serious injuries. 76 % of all motorcycle crashes were multi-vehicle crashes and 24% single-vehicle crashes.
Exercise caution at T junctions as 31.7% 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.
