Australia makes hi-vis and motorcycle gloves compulsory for new riders
Learner motorcyclists in New South Wales must now wear high-visibility clothing and approved gloves as part of the state's biggest rider safety shake-up in almost 20 years.
Australia has introduced new laws requiring thousands of novice motorcyclists to wear additional protective equipment, with learner riders now legally required to wear high-visibility clothing every time they head out on the road.
The new rules came into force today, July 1, in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), forming part of what the government describes as its biggest overhaul of motorcycle safety in almost two decades.
Under the changes, riders on learner licences must now wear an approved high-visibility vest or jacket over their riding kit, while both learner riders and those holding provisional P1 and P2 licences must also wear motorcycle gloves that comply with European safety standard EN13594:2015.
Failure to comply carries penalties, with riders facing fines and demerit points if they are caught without the required equipment. Police can also ask riders to prove their gloves and hi-vis clothing meet the required standards by checking the manufacturer's compliance labels.
According to the NSW Government, the move is aimed squarely at inexperienced riders, who are statistically far more likely to be involved in serious crashes than fully licensed motorcyclists. Officials say approved gloves can significantly reduce hand and wrist injuries in a crash, while high-visibility clothing is intended to improve rider conspicuity and reduce the chances of other road users failing to spot motorcycles in traffic.
The reforms were first announced in May following a motorcycle safety roundtable involving riders, trainers, industry representatives and road safety experts. Alongside the new clothing requirements, the state has also committed to expanding rider training and education as part of a broader package of safety measures.
Mandatory protective clothing remains a contentious subject among riders, and while helmets are legally required in most countries, requirements for gloves, boots and high-visibility clothing vary widely around the world.
In the UK, there is currently no legal requirement for riders to wear hi-vis clothing, while gloves, jackets and boots are recommended but not compulsory. Australia's latest move raises the question of whether similar laws could ever find support on British roads – or whether riders here would see them as another move by a government that already meddles too much.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
