Statistics on motorcycle and bicycle road toll

The grim statistics for motorcyclists:

• Last year (2008), 247 motorcyclists were killed on Australian roads and approximately 5,000 were hospitalised

• Motorcyclists deaths make up 17 per cent of the Australian road toll

• Motorbikes account for just 4.5 per cent of Australian registered vehicles

• Motorcyclists are 23 times likely to be killed on Australian roads than car drivers

• Between 2001 and 2006, motorcyclist deaths increased by an average of 1.9 per cent annually

• Between June 2007 to May 2008, motorcyclists deaths increased by an average of 4.2 per cent annually

• As at mid-night Sunday, 2nd August 2009, there had been 49 motorcyclists killed on Queensland roads

• It is estimated that a quarter of motorcyclists involved in accidents and wearing helmets suffer brain damage or death

• For each motorcycle or bicycle fatality in Australia, the cost to the community is close to $1,000,000 per person, and substantially more for brain-injured persons (RACQ, 1998)

The grim statistics for cyclists:

• Last year (2008), 27 cyclists were killed on Australian roads

• As at mid-night Sunday, 2nd August 2009, there had been 6 cyclists killed on Queensland roads