COUNCIL hosted a free motorcycling safety workshop for riders of all experience levels during National Road Safety Week (11-18 May).
The workshop, facilitated by the Survive the Ride Association of NSW, aided motorcyclists in managing risks when riding and encouraged adjustments to riding habits that significantly enhance personal safety.
Motorcyclists in the Hunter region were involved in 12 percent of crashes between 2019 and 2023, according to statistics provided by the Centre for Road Safety.
“We’ve got the stats, and they’re pretty clear. Motorcyclists, especially folks who might be returning to riding after a break, are vulnerable on the road,” Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson said.
“We wanted to host this workshop to provide an opportunity to identify and find solutions for common challenges faced by motorcyclists.”
National Road Safety Week highlights the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it in our community.
Every year, approximately 1,200 people are killed and another 40,000-plus are seriously injured on Australian roads.
Mayor Anderson said National Road Safety Week is a good chance to check-in and consider how we all contribute to safety on local roads.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and at Port Stephens Council, we work closely with our community through a range of initiatives and programs to enhance road safety,” Mayor Anderson said.
“Looking ahead, we’ll be inviting our community to participate in a survey about road safety in Port Stephens as part of the Community Action for Safe Speeds study, led by researchers from The George Institute for Global Health,” Mayor Anderson said.
The CASS (Community Action for Safe Speeds) study aims to find innovative ways to reduce speeding-related road trauma in New South Wales by increasing public demand for safer speeds.
Participants will complete a 20-minute online survey on two occasions, six months apart, that asks questions about demographics and attitudes to road safety issues, including speeds in the community.
