Thursday marked the fourth day of National Road Safety Week for 2017, with Tasmania Police choosing to focus the day on motorcycle safety. 

About 4 per cent of vehicle registrations in Tasmania are motorcyclists, but riders are involved in about 22 per cent of serious injuries or fatalities on the road. 

Sergeant Nick Hodgkinson, who is also a passionate motorcycle rider, said his message was to always ride an approved and safe bike and to wear the appropriate protective gear.

“We don’t want any deaths on the road at all and that includes people in cars and on motorbikes,” Sergeant Hodgkinson said.

“Our statistics show that a lot of our crashes tend to happen on rural roads, so speed limits over 80km/h.

“We want to really get the message out there so that we save people’s lives before these crashes actually happen.” 

In an attempt to keep motorcyclists safer on the road, a new training program will be introduced later this year for those getting their licence. 

This new program will include a much larger practical component than is included in the current motorcycle licence test.

Road Safety Advisory Council chairman Jim Cox said speed and being inattentive were the two biggest potential killers for motorcycle riders.

“It is your responsibility to drive properly, to ride a bike properly, to do all the right things when you are on the road,” Mr Cox said.

“Just drive to the conditions, don’t speed, and think of other people.”

The annual National Road Safety Week initiative focuses each day on one possible factor that could lead to fatalities or injuries on the road. 

On Monday, Tasmania Police concentrated on seatbelts, Tuesday was speeding through roadworks, Wednesday was inattention, Thursday was speeding on motorcycles, and Friday will focus on preventing drink and drug driving. 

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by road trauma, contact Road Trauma Support Tasmania on 6777 6252 for help.