Number of motorcyclists killed on Victorian roads drops 73 per cent

There have been five deaths so far this year, 14 fewer than at the same time last year.

In February last year 14 motorcyclists died on Victorian roads, the worst month for motorcyclist deaths in almost 30 years.

Transport Accident Commission Victoria senior road safety manager Samantha Cockfield said losing so many riders over such a short period sent shockwaves through the community.

"The really high number of motorcyclists killed last year did shock not only the motorcycle riding community, but also motorists, who became so much more aware of how vulnerable motorcyclists are on the road," Ms Cockfield said.

"So I think drivers became more aware of their need to share the roads with motorcyclists and take care when there are motorcyclists on the roads. Everybody is recognising how vulnerable motorcyclists are."

But some motorcyclists say the dramatic decrease is better explained by the lower number of part-time riders on the roads over summer.

One Melbourne rider, who has more than 30 years of full-time motorcycling experience, said that as the weather becomes milder, the numbers on the rode will increaser.

"The hit rate will probably increase in March," he said.

"Usually I don't like the summer time to ride as all these part-time riders come out," he said.

"Most of them cannot ride well, have little road sense, no respect for cars, do not understand the rules to stay alive and wear the crappiest gear.

"For these part-time riders unless it's clear sky, no chance of rain, and warm so they can wear a T-shirt and shorts, they will not ride.

"Due to the wet summer they stayed inside."

The TAC's "Driver think Rider, Rider think Driver - Looking Out" campaign at the end of last year aimed to get motorists to look out for riders.

"We're all good at looking out for the things that could hurt us, but we're not as good at looking out for the things that we could hurt," a TV commercial in the campaign said, as a women in a car looks on in horror at a rider lying on the road.

Ms Cockfield said it appeared TAC's attention-grabbing ads were working, but people were also paying attention to media reports on the high number of deaths.

"I think both media discussion and our campaign, which talked a lot about sharing the roads and everybody taking responsibility for each other, has had an affect," she said.

The TAC worked with a number of motorcycling groups to develop the campaign, and made sure they got the message right, Ms Cockfield said.

"This is one of the really great outcomes of working together last year and getting those key messages out there," she said.

In April last year, the state government rolled out the motorcycle graduated licensing system. Now motorcycle learners must complete a two-day practical course before they can obtain a learner permit.

"We're starting to see people who've been through part of that system, it's a much more detailed system which means that people enter the roads with more experience and more skills," she said.

Infrastructure has also improved since the spate of deaths last year, and Ms Cockfield said there would continue to be changes made to popular motorcycling routes in Victoria.

"There's a program looking at improving the conditions of motorcyclist routes, moving debris, gravel, fixing any abnormalities in the road surface," Ms Cockfield said.

She said as part of a second program, barriers were being placed in the middle of dangerous roads to reduce the number of head on collisions.

"I think we will continue to see, over the next three or four years, a decrease in the number of people being killed on the road," Ms Cockfield.

In total, 56 men died riding motorcycles in 2016.

Road Policing Command assistant commissioner Doug Fryer, who is a motorcyclist himself, said police encouraged all riders to drive within their limits, wear the right gear and "only get on the bike when you're right to ride".

"If you're a little tired, drained, under the weather, you have to ask yourself, is it really worth riding when you're not at your best?" he said.

As of March 7 this year, 37 people have died on the roads, compared with 62 at this time last year.

Mr Fryer said he was hopeful Victoria was on track to have one of the lowest annual road tolls.

"There may be a lot of reasoning why we are currently 25 fewer lives lost this year from last year, in fact we are tracking the best we've ever been.

"[But] we must remember that 36 lives have still been lost," he said.

"Police are continuing to enforce, our solo unit is more visible, there are more campaigns, VicRoads are continuing to improve high-speed rural roads, but the most significant reason I think is that the community is taking individual responsibility for their own safety."

- The Age