A cohort of Aussie motorists are set to face the biggest change in our roads in over 20 years, come July 1.
Motorists in New South Wales will soon face tougher safety requirements under the biggest overhaul of the state’s motorcycle licensing system in two decades.
From July 1, learner and provisional motorcycle riders will be required to wear protective gloves and high-visibility vests under changes to the Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme.
Riders have three weeks to get the right gear before the new changes come into effect.
The NSW Government says the reform aims to reduce serious injuries and deaths among novice riders, who are significantly more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than experienced motorcyclists.
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“It is really distressing when we see fatalities where people weren’t wearing helmets and when we see serious crashes and trauma where people have not been wearing gloves,” New South Wales Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison told 7News.
“They have a crash, damage their hands, and that can mean their career is gone.”
The reforms were developed following recommendations from the NSW Motorcycle Safety Round Table 2025, which included more than 70 riders, trainers and road safety experts.
The changes come as motorcycle riding continues to grow in popularity across the state, particularly among younger people.
NSW has recorded a 65 per cent increase in motorcycle licences over the past 20 years, with about 27,000 licences issued annually.
Despite the surge in riders, road fatalities have continued to climb.
In 2025, 75 motorcyclists died on NSW roads, seven more than the previous year. Of those killed, 21 riders were aged under 25.
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“These reforms target novice riders because they are over seven times more likely to die in a crash than experienced riders,” Ms Aitchison previously said.
“By strengthening training, improving on-road experience and mandating simple protective gear, we’re giving new riders the best possible start.
“We’re taking a whole-of-system approach: safer people, safer roads and safer vehicles. It’s all part of our Towards Zero vision of eliminating deaths and serious injuries by 2050.
“Every life lost on our roads is one too many. We all have a role to play in keeping NSW roads safe.”
Under the new rules, gloves worn by learner and provisional riders must meet the European EN 13594 safety standard.
Learner riders will also need to wear high-visibility vests to improve visibility and awareness on the road.
On the NSW government’s website, “Failure to comply with this requirement is an offence and will incur fines and demerit points.”
The state’s mandatory high-visibility rule follows Victoria, which already requires learner riders to wear reflective clothing while riding.
New riders are encouraged to visit MotoCAP’s website to get the correct protective motorcycle gear before the new rules kick in.
Independent safety body MotoCAP, the Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program, tests motorcycle jackets, pants and gloves to measure how well they perform in crashes.
Similar to ANCAP safety ratings for cars, MotoCAP gives riding gear star ratings based on abrasion resistance, burst strength and impact energy absorption, helping riders compare the safety performance of protective gear before buying.
