Vulnerable road users

Vulnerable road users are the road users who have less protection in crashes than people inside a vehicle.

This is because they are either not protected by external shields or protective devices that absorb energy in a crash, or they are more vulnerable to injury from a crash – or both.

In Australia, of the 1,310 people killed in road crashes in the 12 months to June 2024, 12.6% (165 deaths) were pedestrians, 21.1% (277) were motorcyclists and 2.6% (34) were cyclists.

Other vulnerable road users include people with special needs, frailty, disabilities, disorientation, or reduced mobility. Riders of e-scooters and mobility scooters are also VRUs, but little research has been done on these groups and the risks they face.

The AAA Road Safety Research Program is investigating ways to improve heavy vehicle drivers’ ability to see vulnerable road users from their truck cabins, and a hazard perception training program for elderly pedestrians.