Have your say on keeping new riders safe

Motorcyclists continue to be overrepresented in Tasmania’s serious casualty crashes.

Public comment has now opened on the Tasmanian motorcyclist graduated licensing system (GLS) to identify changes that will help make inexperienced riders safer.

The GLS ensures that new riders attain sufficient learning and practical experience as they progress through the licensing stages from pre-L to full bike licence.

Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC) Chair, Scott Tilyard, said that the RSAC was seeking views on the effectiveness of the system and how we can make it even better.

“Despite representing only five percent of the vehicle fleet, motorcyclists made up around one in three serious casualties on Tasmanian roads in 2021 – we aim to bring that number down,” Mr Tilyard said.

“Motorcycle riders are vulnerable on our roads because they have very little to protect them in the event of a crash and learner and provisional riders are most at risk because they are inexperienced.

“In practice the GLS means keeping new riders safe while they develop the skills and experience required to progress through the licensing system.

“Unfortunately, between 2012 and 2021, an average of 20 learner and provisional motorcycle riders were killed or seriously injured on Tasmanian roads every year so we are looking at the GLS to see if more can, or should, be done at the early stages of a rider’s time on the road.

“Public comments and submissions will be considered as part of the RSAC’s broader review of the current motorcyclist GLS to identify changes that will help make inexperienced riders safer.

“We encourage all current and prospective motorcyclists as well as other road users to contribute their ideas on how we can help keep motorcyclists safe on Tasmanian roads,” Mr Tilyard said.

The feedback received will enable RSAC to provide advice to the Tasmanian Government on how the motorcyclist GLS can be improved.

To learn more and have your say, visit www.rsac.tas.gov.au/mgls

Submissions close on Wednesday, 21 September 2022