October is Motorcyle Awareness Month. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As the nationwide campaign revs up for Motorcycle Awareness Month in October, some local riders are looking to the sky for guidance.
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GV Social Riders’ more localised campaign at the same time, Moonlight Madness — Make the Right Move, sheds light on the link between full moons and motorcycle fatalities.
GV Social Riders administrator Jolene Doller said the risk was even higher during a super moon.
It’s not folklore, rather a fact, she said.
Super moons sit closer to Earth, making them appear up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than a regular full moon.
The extra pull can cause tidal variations, and GV Social Riders suggest it also shapes human behaviour.
The next three full moons — on October 7, November 5 and December 4 — will be super moons, coinciding with peak riding season, school holidays, festive celebrations and peak holiday travel times.
“That’s a perfect storm for fatigue, distraction, poor decisions — and road trauma,” Ms Doller said.
She said the moon impacted a variety of factors on the road, citing glare, distorted shadows and depth perception creating danger.
More light also means more animal movement could take place throughout the night, creating sudden hazards, particularly in more rural areas where animal collisions can be deadly.
Bright nights suppress melatonin, which can disrupt sleep, reducing a rider’s alertness.
Reaction times can be slower, decision-making less sharp, and irritable moods can lead to increased aggressive and risky behaviour for both riders and drivers.
With warmer weather, longer days and an abundance of social gatherings, more traffic is on the roads for longer periods, with alcohol also contributing to danger.
Super moons are believed to increase danger for motorcyclists.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
“With three super moons lining up over our busiest travel time, the risk of road trauma skyrockets,” Ms Doller said.
“We can’t control the moon, but we can control how we use the road.”
As at September 18, there had been 46 motorcycle fatalities in Victoria in 2025, compared to 49 at the same time last year.
Twenty-four of them happened in metropolitan areas, and 22 in regional Victoria.
GV Social Riders will be at the Grand Opening of Dirt Designz in Dhurringile on October 4 to promote Motorcycle Awareness Month, the Goulburn Valley’s newest motorcycle venue and motorcycle safety.
Dirt Designz is a ride park that will feature three enduro loops for junior, intermediate and senior-level riders, as well as a grass track and junior motocross track.
“Dirt Designz is more than just a track, we’re about building better riders,” owner and trainer Damien Hill said.
“We live and breathe motorcycles, but safety always comes first.
“From grassroots training to family-friendly riding, we’re passionate about supporting every rider to become smarter, safer and stronger on two wheels — and creating a culture where everyone supports each other on and off the track.”
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