Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to injury than other road users so saving riders’ lives and preventing injuries remains a critical road safety challenge. October is Motorcyclist Awareness Month so it’s the perfect time for us all to remember that road safety is a shared responsibility and that everyone has a role to play in keeping the roads safe.

Drivers and motorcyclists are encouraged to look out for each other and share the roads safely, with the number of motorbikes on the roads expected to increase as the weather warms up.

Traditionally, motorbike travel increases during the warmer and daylight savings months, with more recreational motorcyclists on the roads. The increase in motorcyclist numbers and distances travelled brings a greater risk of crashes involving motorbikes.

Last year 2389 motorcyclists were seriously injured in crashes and 53 motorcyclists lost their lives on NSW roads. International research indicates that per kilometre of vehicle travel, motorcyclists are approximately 34 times more likely to be killed in a crash than vehicle occupants.

It is critical that drivers are always on the lookout for people on motorbikes, while motorcyclists can improve their safety by ensuring they are visible through safe road positioning and wearing the appropriate protective gear on every ride.

Motorcyclists should understand the road rules to ride safely. Motorcyclists should also keep a lookout and make good choices when on the road to help protect them from serious injuries or fatalities.

Motorcyclists are more exposed than other motorists and risk serious injuries when they are involved in a crash, which is why it’s so important they are wearing not only their helmet but as much protective gear as possible. To coincide with Motorcycle Awareness Month new safety and comfort ratings have been released for 30 helmets as well as 12 jackets, 16 pairs of gloves and four pairs of pants via the Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program (MotoCAP). Using MotoCAP ratings allows motorcyclists to choose the right gear for their ride.

Motorcycles are smaller than most other vehicles, and it can be difficult to judge their approaching speed. Small changes in driver behaviour can be the difference between life and death for riders.

Tips for drivers to better share the road with motorcyclists include:

• Remember to scan the road environment and watch for motorcycles, especially when you approach intersections.
• Cars have blind spots that can be large enough to obscure your view. Look over your shoulder before you make a move of any kind.
• Check your mirrors and blind spots often and give motorcycles room in traffic.
• When you're getting out of a parked car, check for motorcycles before you open the door.
• When you're pulling out from the kerb, look especially for motorcycles. They have a narrower profile than cars and can be hard to spot.
• Give motorcycles space. They may have to avoid an obstacle that wouldn't matter to you but could be a serious problem for them.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and all road users need to work together so everyone makes it safely to their destination.