New report reveals increase in fatalities

MOTORBIKE riders are being killed on our roads at higher rates than seen in the past 12 months, new data shows.

Despite extensive road safety campaigns, it appears the message is not getting through with more motorbike riders killed in 2015 than during the same period in 2014.

The latest quarterly report from the Australian Automobile Association shows motorbike rider deaths have increased 3.2 per cent on the same quarter last year.

There have been 201 motorcyclists killed on Australian roads in the past 12 months, an increase from 194 in the corresponding period for 2014.

CEO of the AAA Michael Bradley said the figures were a “stark reminder” of the need to be careful on the road.

“It’s important that efforts to improve road safety must focus on improvements in infrastructure and vehicle safety as well as driver behaviour,” Mr Bradley said.

NSW was the worst state for motorcyclist fatalities, with 58 deaths over the past year.

This was followed by Queensland (47 deaths), Western Australia (36), Victoria (31), South Australia (13), Tasmania (8), Northern Territory (5) and the ACT (3).

Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia were the only states where significant increases were seen in 2013-14.

Those on pushbikes are also at risk, with cyclists categorised in the highest “red” status group, according to the AAA.

But compared to the same quarter last year, rates of cyclist deaths have decreased by 44.8 per cent.

Car passengers are also a high risk group for deaths, with the number of passenger fatalities increasing by 17.8 per cent over the past year.

In the past 12 months, 245 deaths on Australian roads have been passengers, compared with 208 deaths over the same period in 2014. In total, there has been a 1.6 per cent increase in road fatalities in the 12 months to June 2015, compared with a year earlier.