Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding announced the launch of the government’s Towards Zero Strategy on Monday.

The strategy entails a 10-year plan, which aims to reduce the annual serious injury and death toll on Tasmania’s roads to fewer than 200 by 2026.

The toll sits at about 300 injuries and deaths a year. 

The government hopes to achieve this goal by managing speed limits, improving existing infrastructure and injecting further funding into road safety education.

The announcement came in the wake of Sunday’s fatality on the Midland Highway near Perth.

“It's tragedies like that that drive this government and the Road Safety Advisory Council to look for stronger solutions to road safety in Tasmania,” Mr Hidding said.

But the Minister was careful to place particular emphasis on motorcycle safety, with motorcycle riders representing one-in-five casualties on Tasmania’s roads.

“At the moment, a learner rider fills out some forms, spends a little while going around some witches' hats on a netball court, and we send that rider out onto the roads for 12 months before we actually assess whether the person's capable,” Mr Hidding said.

He noted that a “new arrangement” would be put in place to improve the novice motorcycle training system. 

“A learner driver will spend many more hours learning and demonstrating ability on the road before they're allowed to go out with their L-plate on their motorcycle.”

Tasmanian Motorcycle Council president Paul Bullock reiterated Mr Hidding’s points. 

“It's your life in your hands, and you need experience. That's what this new training will give [riders],” Mr Bullock said.

From May 2017 onwards, Tasmanian riders will be required to undergo a greater number of tests before obtaining their learner licence.

Meanwhile, Road Safety Advisory Council chairman Jim Cox outlined the long-term goal of the road safety initiative.

“We're looking towards zero,” Mr Cox said.

“That's our aim, that’s our wish, and the strategy hopefully will help us achieve it.”

For more information about the new motorcycle training regime, visit the Department of State Growth’s website.