Motorcycle safety prioritised amid rising fatalities

By Ryan Bellingham

Mar 11, 2025

A worrying number of motorcycle riders have been killed on Victoria’s roads this year. Photo by Djembe Archibald

Victoria Police is prioritising motorcycle safety following a concerning number of deaths this year.

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Sixteen riders had died on the state’s roads as of Tuesday, March 11, accounting for nearly a quarter of all road fatalities so far in 2025.

State highway patrol solo unit Senior Sergeant John Papas said police saw a significant amount of motorcyclist road trauma last year, which had shown no sign of slowing.

“Motorcyclists are one of our most vulnerable road users and have little to protect them if they’re involved in a collision. We must all do everything we can to protect riders,” Sgt Papas said.

“For motorists, that means watching out for motorcyclists, being present behind the wheel and aware of your surroundings.”

Worryingly, three quarters of rider deaths occurred on regional roads, an 80 per cent increase on the same time last year.

Five of the recorded deaths occurred in the state’s west, including at Girgarre and Heathcote.

All deceased riders were males, aged between 23 and 82.