Safety improvement work has been successfully carried out on the Old Pacific Highway at Mooney Mooney, Mount White and Bar Point in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, as part of efforts to enhance motorcycle and motorist safety on the highway.

Announced by Central Coast parliamentary secretary Scot MacDonald MLC, the road safety improvement work was supported by $1.3m funding granted by the NSW government under the Safer Roads programme.

"The NSW government is delivering targeted projects to help reduce the risk of death and injuries resulting from crashes."

MacDonald said: "With the number of motorcycles on the road network increasing, the NSW government is delivering targeted projects to help reduce the risk of death and injuries resulting from crashes.

"In the five years to June 2014, there were 50 crashes involving a motorcycle along these sections of the Old Pacific Highway, with two people killed and 48 injured."

"At Mooney Mooney near Karool Road, the road has been resurfaced and the shoulders widened.

"At Mount White near Ashbrookes Road and Bar Point, improvements have been made to a number of curves where incidents have been recorded. Widened asphalt shoulders have been built and new kerbside barriers with motorcycle rails installed to reduce the risk of vehicles leaving the road."

According to MacDonald, the government is focusing on motorcycle safety, including legalising lane filtering, improving infrastructure on popular motorcycle routes and raising motorcycle safety awareness.

The prioritisations are being carried out through the Ride to Live campaign, which aims to help motorcycle riders to make the right decisions, manage risk and speed, stay alert and wear the right protective gear.

MacDonald added: "It also encourages drivers to check twice for riders, especially at intersections or when changing lanes."