Community policing and education to reduce motorcycle trauma.
Keywords: Motorcycles and Scooters
ACRS
Submission Date: 2009 Journal
Abstract
Last year 43 motorcyclists lost their lives (14% of the road toll) while another 1,044 were seriously injured on Victorian roads. 56% were single vehicle crashes with at least 50% of these crashes involving excessive speed . Motorcycles account for approximately 3% of the vehicle fleet in the state.
In January 2009, Victoria Police with the support of VicRoads and the Victorian Motor Cycle Advisory Council (VMAC), commenced an ambitious two year “Community Policing and Education” project with the objective to positively impact on motorcycle safety.
This new initiative provides a focus on communication and awareness for both motorcyclists and vehicle drivers while ensuring that a complementary enforcement strategy is maintained. In addition to normal policing activities, five major state-wide policing operations will be undertaken annually supported by 50 regional operations each year. The program is to be fully evaluated.