The Law Handbook 2024

670 Section 6: Houses, communities and the road Crashes involving others If you are involved in a crash with another cyclist, pedestrian or driver, in which someone is hurt or property is damaged, you must: • stop and help the injured person; • give your name and address to anyone involved, and to any police officers present; and • report the crash to the police. Failing to stop and help is a serious offence (see above – s 61A RS Act). For more information, see ‘What to do after an accident’ in Chapter 10.5: Motor vehicle accidents and insurance. Taking action against dangerous drivers and aggression towards cyclists Aggression towards cyclists is sadly a common experience for many cyclists in Victoria. Even in the absence of aggression, on average nine cyclists a year are killed on Victorian roads and over 400 require hospitalisation from road-related injuries annually. One way of holding motorists to account is to report their driving behaviour to Victoria Police. If you are injured or impacted by a motorist, and you can remember their registration details, then you should consider making a statement at your nearest police station. If the police officer is satisfied that your account of the reported incident provides reasonable grounds, then the officer may serve a notice on the registered owner of the vehicle involved in the incident (s 60 RS Act). Under this section of the RS Act, the registered owner must provide details of who was driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged incident. If the officer is not satisfied with the driver’s account of the allegations, then they may choose to take further action. If you have property damage or are injured, you might also want to consider bringing a civil action against the offender or, if you are eligible, lodging a claim with the Transport Accident Commission. Of course, often this means it is your word against the driver’s (unless you can secure witness statements). However, taking these few steps may help to encourage drivers to consider their actions more carefully in the future, which may in turn help to make the roads safer for all cyclists in Victoria. For more information, contact Victoria Police or make a report online via www.police.vic.gov.au/ police-assistance-line-and-online-reporting. Contacts Amy Gillett Foundation Address: 20/31 Queen Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 9111 5686 Email: info@amygillett.org.au Web: www.amygillett.org.au The Amy Gillett Foundation is a national organisation dedicated to cyclist safety. Bicycle Network (Victoria) 4/246 Bourke Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 8376 8888; 1800 639 634 Web: www.bicyclenetwork.com.au An independent organisation that encourages Australians to make riding a bicycle part of everyday life. AusCycling (Victoria) Level 5, South Tower, 459 Collins Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 1300 137 397 Web: www.auscycling.org.au AusCycling is the national sporting organisation responsible for the development, facilitation and growth of all forms of cycling in Australia. Fines Victoria Tel (infringement enquiries): 9200 8111 (metro); 1300 369 819 (regional) Web: https://online.fines.vic.gov.au Fines Victoria is the government entity that manages the administration and enforcement of infringement and court fines across the state. Fines Victoria can provide information about your rights and responsibilities in regards to traffic, parking, public transport and local council fines. Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Tel: 1300 654 329; 1800 332 556 Email: info@tac.vic.gov.au Web: www.tac.vic.gov.au The TAC pays for treatment and pays benefits to eligible people who have been injured in a transport accident, including some bicycle crashes.