Motorcycle Crash Responsibilities and Vehicle Impoundment (Hoon Laws) in Victoria

Crash management

The rider handbook does not set out a separate list of crash rules for motorcyclists. It says that if you are involved in a crash, what you must do is the same as for a car driver, and it points to Road to Solo Driving for the full details and for some basic first aid. We summarise those duties on the car-driver page crash responsibilities in Victoria.

If you need an ambulance, police or the fire brigade, phone 000.

Why crashes matter to riders

• In a crash a rider has less protection than a driver.
• Motorcyclists make up more than 16% of Victorian road deaths and serious injuries, yet motorcycles account for less than 1% of travel.
• A helmet can reduce the chance of serious head injury in a crash, and may keep you alive. See helmet law.

For what to do at the scene, read after a crash and bike security.

Vehicle impoundment (hoon laws)

The impoundment laws, also known as hoon laws, apply to motorcycle riders just as they do to other drivers. Police may impound your bike if you are caught committing an offence such as:

• excessive speeding
• improper use of a motor vehicle, for example burnouts
• driving while disqualified

The handbook does not say how long a bike may be held, so check with VicRoads or Victoria Police. For speed limits see speed limits in Victoria, and for licence loss see demerit points and suspension.

Based on The Victorian Rider Handbook (2023, Department of Transport and Planning) and the VicRoads motorcycle pages. This guide covers Victoria: other states and territories have different rules, and rules change from time to time, so check vicroads.vic.gov.au for the latest.