Motorcycles in the Mountains – Discussion Paper (from All Moto)

Introduction: An increase in the number of motorcycle crashes in the Kosciouszko Mountain Region has prompted the Tumut, Gundagai and Tumbarumba Road Safety Officer (RSO) together with the Roads and Traffic Authority to investigate factors involved in motorcycle crashes in order to define the problem and identify possible countermeasures. The first step has been to form a motorcycle working party consisting of Council, Police, RTA and motorcycle representatives.

Tumbarumba Shire has commenced a 'Cycle Safe in Tumba Shire' Project, targeting the issue of motorcycle crashes, specifically in the Mountain Region of Tumbarumba.  This Project has so far involved a number of data gathering processes and other localised strategies, including:

· The development of a full profile of crashes for the period January 1996 to December 2001, identifying trends including where they are happening, causes and the age group of riders involved.

· A survey of motorcyclists to identify motorcyclists concerns.

· Newly installed signage at the entry to each village within the Tumbarumba Shire, which include motorcycle safety tips and highlight rest areas along motorcycle routes.

With further input from motorcycle representatives and stakeholders the development of a strategic project plan which is able to focus and address all key identified issues will be achieved.

Background: Motorcycle accidents make up 1/5 of crashes in the Tumbarumba Shire and 1/3 of casualties.  This percentage has grown every year and is continuing to grow with a higher number of crashes occurring in 2001. A number of factors have contributed to these crashes, including speed, fatigue, riders not riding to conditions and riders not knowing the roads. Tumbarumba has been promoted widely through the motorcycle industry as a great spot for people to ride. The increased motorcycle activity on alpine roads was identified as an emerging issue at a recent meeting of the Alpine Way Handover Working Party.  This increase has been partially attributed to the sealing of the Alpine Way between Tom Groggin and Dead Horse Gap.

Discussion: Crash data analysis was carried out in two parts, firstly January 1996 to December 2001 and secondly January 1996 to September 2001.  This was due to the complete RTA Crash Data, for the period October to December 2001 being unavailable at the time of reporting. Analysis of Tumbarumba Local Government Area of crashes involving motorcycles over the 5-year period January 1996 to December 2001, was undertaken with the following results:

• Motorcycles were involved in approximately 20% of all crashes within Tumbarumba Shire, this is well above the State average of 4%.
• 44 motorcycle crashes occurred
• The majority of crashes were injury crashes
• The majority of crashes occurred on Sunday (13), followed by Thursday (7) and Friday and Saturday (6).
• The majority of crashes occur in November and April (8) and March and October (7).  No crashes occurred during June and July.
• The majority of crashes occurred during the afternoon, with 18 occurring between 12pm and 3pm and 14 crashes occurring between 3pm and 6pm.
• The majority of crashes occurred on the Alpine Way (14) and the Cabramurra Road (9). 
• A high proportion of crashes occurred at Tooma Reservoir (8) and at Khancoban (10).

Analysis of the crash data for the January 1996 to June 2001 showed the following:

• 36 motorcycle crashes occurred.
• 83% (30) of crashes occurred on 2-way undivided road.  Of these 93% (28) occurred on a curved alignment.
• Identified factors related to crashes:  64% (23) crashes involved no hazardous features;  22% (8) involved loose gravel surface.  94% (34) crashes occurred on sealed roads with only 5% (2) occurring on unsealed roads.
• 83% (30) crashes occurred on a dry surface.
• Speed was identified as a contributing factor in 61% (22) of crashes.
• 94% (34) of controllers were male.
• 74% of controllers were aged over than 30 years.

There is a need to carry out a similar detailed crash analysis for the mountain region within the Snowy River Shire in Southern Region of the RTA.

Literature Review: The recently launched Motorcycle Council of NSW (MCC) 'Positioned for Safety' Road Safety Strategic Plan 2002 - 2005 aims to integrate the activities of the MCC with those of the key road safety agencies so that they may work together towards common road safety goals.  The RTA has developed a Motorcycle Problem Definition and Countermeasure Summary document, which is currently in draft form and should be available towards the end of August 2002. These two documents together with the identification of further information for defining the problem and proposed countermeasures will ensure best-practice is used.

Stakeholders: A contact list of all identified key stakeholders has been established by the working party.  Each stakeholder has been contacted regarding interest and attendance of a Motorcycle Forum, at which support and commitment to the planning and implementation of a 'Motorcycles in the Mountains' Strategy will be sought, together with initial planning and development of strategies to address identified issues. Each of these groups has a key role to play in the success of this project and a vested interest in the intended outcomes.

Community Involvement: As part of the 'Cycle Safe in Tumbarumba Shire' project a survey was conducted in order to assess rider knowledge and experience and gain information on resources which may assist to reduce the number of motorcycle crashes in Tumbarumba Shire. Surveys were distributed to all known motorcycle rest areas in the Tumbarumba Shire.  There were a total of 450 surveys distributed with 174 (39%) response. Results included:

• 91% (158) of respondents were male, 9% (16) being female
• 97% (168) of respondents held a full licence, 2% (3) held a learners permit, 1% (2) held a probationary licence and 1 respondent has no licence and travels as a passenger.
• The majority, 82% (142) respondence road a motorcycle greater than 750cc.
• The majority, 80% (140) ride their motorcycles only occasionally in the Tumbarumba Shire.
• 44% (77) of respondents were members of motorcycle groups.
• 57% (99) of respondents ride their motorcycles purely for recreational purposes.
• 9 respondents have had a motorcycle crash in the Tumbarumba Shire, of these 2 respondents stated inexperience as the cause, 4 stated road conditions and 3 stated other reasons.  Respondents were able to give multiple response.

The Roads and Traffic Authority has recently conducted a Community Attitude Survey, targeting motorcyclists and motorists to identify attitudes to motorcycle issues.  The results of this survey should be available mid to late August 2002. Ongoing research, together the results of these surveys, should result in a strategy that is able to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Key Strategic issues and possible countermeasures: This paper, stakeholder presentations and all other relevant data, will be presented at the planned Motorcycle Forum to be held at Tumbarumba on Saturday, August 10. The Forum will involve motorcycle stakeholders and representatives, and the presentation of information to allow for the development of a Strategic Plan with strategies to decrease the number of motorcycle accidents in the mountain region.

Appropriate strategies may be of a behavioural or environmental nature.  The strategies to address behavioural issues are education, encouragement and enforcement.  It would be anticipated that any identified environmental strategies would be referred to the appropriate road authority for further investigation. Whilst the main goal of the Strategic Plan is to improve the safety of motorcyclists in the mountain region, other benefits include:  wider community awareness of motorcycle issues; improved communication between motorcyclists and road authorities; and recreational and tourism benefits.

Conclusion: The RTA is currently developing a mass media public education campaign, which at this stage is an urban based campaign targeting young males. It is intended that Road Safety Audits will be conducted from a motorcyclists perspective on all motorcycle routes within the Kosciouszko Mountain Region.  The audits will identify the principle deficiencies in the network in relation to motorcycles and enable the Working Party to develop appropriate strategies to address the issues identified. Technical Directions for motorcycle specific signage are currently being drafted and these signs are to be trialed by the RTA with Tumbarumba being one of the trial areas.  This signage will be placed at identified areas of risk.

Prepared By:  J Cheshire