NSW Motorcycle Safety Roundtable announced after deaths hit 10-year high

The number of motorcyclists dying on our roads has hit a 10-year high with the Minns government announcing new plans to try and stop the shocking toll.

Police investigate after motorcycle rider killed in crash with a car on Lane Cove Rd in 2024. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

The number of motorcyclists dying on our roads has hit a 10-year high, with the shocking record prompting the Minns government to round up experts from across Australia for a safety roundtable next month.

From 2023 to 2024 the number of young motorcycle riders aged 16-25 who lost their lives on NSW roads increased by 75 per cent, while motorcycle riders made up almost 20 per cent of all deaths on NSW roads last year.

More than half of these deaths occurred in regional NSW.

In only the first three months of 2025, nine more lives have been lost compared to the same time last year, bringing the total death toll so far this year to 23.

NSW motorcycle deaths have hit a 10-year high. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

The new Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said she was “deeply concerned” riders were perishing on NSW roads at the highest rates in a decade.

“Every death on our roads is one too many and we’re determined to do more to save the lives of all road users, particularly those who are more vulnerable like motorcyclists,” she said.

“We know there’s more to do and we want to work with the community to come up with the right solutions to the challenges we face.”

The government will hold its Motorcycle Safety Roundtable on April 29 to better understand why more motorcycle riders have died and to explore potential solutions.

Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the roundtable would gather experts from across the country to work on road safety solutions. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Motorcycle rider groups, academics, motorcycle experts and government agencies will gather to discuss ways to improve licensing, education and training, vehicle safety, infrastructure and use of protective gear requirements.

The roundtable also discusses potential reforms for the Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme after novice rider deaths, which includes those with learner or provisional licences, increased by 55 per cent from 2023 to 2024.

Hospitalisations also increased by 10 per cent in the same period with nearly 3000 motorcyclists admitted to emergency or critical care by June 2024.

Road safety advocate Heidi Haydon, 39, welcomed the roundtable after she was left paralysed from the chest down following a crash in 2009.

Road safety advocate Heidi Haydon with her new custom trike, which is hand-controlled with room for her wheelchair on the side, more than 10 years after the crash.

Ms Haydon was left a paraplegic after the crash in December 2009.

Ms Hayden welcomed the roundtable and hoped it would deliver better road safety reforms.

Ms Haydon was riding her motorbike in Wollongong when she decided to go the less travelled route to the shops. Moments later she was T-boned by a ute that failed to give way at a roundabout.

She was only a few streets from her home.

“Having survived a crash and spending seven months in rehabilitation I understand the impacts of serious injuries for our riders, so having a roundtable dedicated to discussing what we can do to improve this is very positive,” she said.

“We need to change and focus on education, it’s really easy to get a motorbike licence now and it’s concerning … more access to advance driver training courses and making them mandatory would be a good first step.”

NSW Motorcycle Council chairman Vincent Buck said the goal of the roundtable was to make (our) roads as safe as possible for riders and all road users alike”.

“Motorcyclists are not only our friends, family, and loved ones, but valued members of our community,” he said.

Originally published as NSW Motorcycle Safety Roundtable announced after deaths hit 10-year high