Deakin expert calls for fresh ideas to address motorcycle safety

Deakin University Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) Senior Research Fellow in Motorcycle Safety Dr Liz de Rome is one of the world's foremost motorcycle safety experts, and recently chaired an interdisciplinary symposium on the topic at Deakin's Waurn Ponds campus.

"Australia is leading the world in many ways when it comes to motorcycle safety, but we still have major road infrastructure problems that need to be addressed," Dr de Rome said.

"We don't build roads that are friendly to motorcyclists. Riders are like the canaries in the coal mine, if something is negatively impacting them it's going to be adversely affecting other road users as well."

Dr de Rome said there had been a lack of research into improving motorcycle safety to the same degree as car safety, despite the growing popularity of motorcycles as a form of transport.

"Australia is well ahead with having made so many advancements to the safety of car occupants, now we need to apply that to motorcyclists," she said.

"Motorcycle use is becoming increasing popular as our roads get more and more congested – motorcycle owners make up four per cent of Australians, but the fleet is increasing by almost 10 per cent each year, and motorcycles are now our most rapidly increasing type of motor vehicle."

Dr de Rome said research had shown drivers were much more likely to turn in front of oncoming bikes than in front of cars, often leading to serious injuries and fatalities.

"The SMIDSY excuse - 'sorry mate, I didn’t see you' - is shockingly common," she said.

"Motorcyclists often prefer to ride in their own space away from other vehicles for their own safety, but their small vertical profile goes unnoticed because drivers have trained themselves to look for cars."

Dr de Rome and presenters at the October 27 safety symposium - including Australian Motorcycle Council Chairman Shaun Lennard and US Motorcycle Accident Analysis' James Ouellet - delved into motorcycle crash investigation and injury mechanics, rider education, computer simulations and infrastructure improvements.

The event also featured a workshop facilitated by former VicRoads Road Safety General Manager Eric Howard.

"The workshop was a chance to bring in researchers from Deakin who may not have worked in the motorcycle safety space before - who may not have even ridden a bike before - but who have skills that we could to apply to developing new safety approaches," Dr de Rome said.

"For example, something like virtual or augmented reality could be a valuable tool in motorcycle training and hazard perception.

"Unlike learner drivers, novice motorcyclists must practice on their own, and must learn to use their bodies to handle the bike, almost like riding a surfboard. In the future, new technologies may be a key to training riders and helping them to develop good habits which in real world riding can be a real challenge."

With motorcyclists representing an increasing proportion of road users killed (17 per cent) and seriously injured (23 per cent) in Australian road crashes, Dr de Rome said more support and funding was needed for research and safety programs.

"It varies, but most of the funding currently comes from the State Government level," she said.

Transport for New South Wales this month announced the formation of a working group and pilot program with Dr de Rome and Dr Christopher Hurren from Deakin's IFM to develop a world-first ratings system for the protective clothing worn by riders.

The motorcycle clothing ratings system is a partnership between Transport for NSW and stakeholders from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and New Zealand, including VicRoads, TAC, RACV, and the Australian Motorcycle Council.