Heads up for the banana benders

[mick_dundee]

MOTORCYCLISTS TO COME UNDER POLICE SPOTLIGHT AFTER ROAD SUMMIT

Premier Peter Beattie said motorbike deaths accounted for nearly 20% of the State's road toll in 2005 yet motorcyclists accounted for just three per cent of registered vehicles on our roads.

"This is an appalling waste of life and we must do more to prevent it," the Premier said.

Premier Beattie, Police Minister Judy Spence and Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas said motorcycle safety was highlighted as an issue of concern at this week's Road Safety Summit.

"As a Government and a community we have to work together to reduce the road toll and that includes doing whatever we can to stop motorcycle tragedies because, quite frankly, they are just too high," Mr Beattie said.

"As a result of the summit we have launched Campaign 300 to save lives and protect innocent Queenslanders from drivers who don't think about the safety of others - and that includes motorcyclists," he said.

Ms Spence said Queensland Police will be in known danger spots such as Mt Glorious, Mt Nebo, Mt Mee and Mt Tambourine over the next three months.

"Motorcycle ownership has increased dramatically in Queensland in recent years and so have the number of motorcycle fatalities - in fact, they are significantly over-represented in the road toll figures," she said.

"Last year, 64 motorcycle riders and pillions lost their lives on Queensland roads. This was a 53% increase on the previous 13-year average, and 56% above the previous five-year average.

"Police research shows that many of these deaths could have been avoided if riders paid more attention to what they were doing, slowed down and rode to their ability and the conditions.

"Eight motorcyclists have died on our roads already this year."

Ms Spence said police statistics revealed the most common day for fatalities among cyclists last year was Saturday, and accidents were generally most likely to occur between 10am-12noon, and 4pm-6pm.

Other police statistics showed:
• 50 of the 64 fatal crashes involving motorcyclists last year were attributed to the actions of the motorcyclist;
• 30 of the deaths were on local roads
• 33 of the deaths were on main roads
• 40% were single vehicle motorcycle accidents
• 27% of riders in fatal crashes held their licence for less than five years
• 15.9% were unlicensed.

"During the weekend of October 29/30 last year, police held Operation Safe Rider on Mt Glorious and intercepted 164 motorbikes and 308 vehicles, issuing 51 traffic infringement notices," Ms Spence said.

"One in nine vehicles intercepted were issued with a ticket.

"In that operation, the highest speed recorded was a motorcycle travelling at 135km/hr in an 80 km speed zone on Mt Nebo Road."

She said while police will continue to run operations in popular riding spots, they will also continue to take a proactive approach in educating riders and motorcycle enthusiasts about the risks of dangerous riding behaviours.

"Police regularly participate in such initiatives as Rider Survivor Day which will be held on March 26 at Mount Glorious.

"This is a joint public education initiative with Queensland Transport, the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety, Queensland and motorcycle rider groups and associations and involves road safety displays and a free sausage sizzle for motorcyclists and the general community."

Mr Lucas said: "The Beattie Government is serious about reducing our road toll."

"This week we announced that we will impound vehicles of repeat road offenders, and that includes motorcyclists who break the law."

Mr Lucas said he would be reviewing the outcomes of this week's successful Summit and making recommendations to Cabinet.

Queenslanders have until March 17 to send their comments and submissions on road safety to the State Government. Go to http://www.roadsafety.qld.gov.au/summit .

February 26, 2006

[ttc]

great more harassment

[chameleon]

just another knee jerk politician, waffling to make himself look good. There will be a blitz or 3 and then they will go after the ricey boys or the smoky dungers again.

[balanse]

"This week we announced that we will impound vehicles of repeat road offenders, and that includes motorcyclists who break the law."

Dont like this bit much ...

[javaman]

Well, the dead riders can't tell the police what happened to them can they

[varden]

i was wondering why M/C didn't get any coverage when it was all over the TV news.

I guess we're not going to miss out.

As for impounding, i guess if your about to get your third strike on your bike they have to catch you first!

[Barrabob]

"During the weekend of October 29/30 last year, police held Operation Safe Rider on Mt Glorious and intercepted 164 motorbikes and 308 vehicles, issuing 51 traffic infringement notices," Ms Spence said.

"One in nine vehicles intercepted were issued with a ticket.

Noisy exhausts and non regulation mudflaps would have topped the list, rider education QLD style.

Just a bit of continual harrasment and hope people give riding away all together and if they didnt have a reason to do the runner before they certainly do now.

[MrStompy]

Police research shows that many of these deaths could have been avoided if riders paid more attention to what they were doing, slowed down and rode to their ability and the conditions

well thats fucking obvious isnt it.

the only thing they missed was leaving it in the garage.

the same thing could be said for all the car drivers that are killed each year.

[kempy]

Interesting point though. I wonder if Q-Ride has anything to do with it. Would be interesting to see the figures up against states that require 250cc experience first....

[wazza1234]

Interesting point though. I wonder if Q-Ride has anything to do with it. Would be interesting to see the figures up against states that require 250cc experience first....

Could still kill yourself on a 250...I hold an open licence after doing qride at Christmas last year, I am sure that the 140km/hr the gpx can get to easily would make you lifeless pretty quick.

Something else which could contribute to the death rate would be the fact you can ride a 50cc scooter without having any training. No training means that there is no one to recommend what you wear when you go riding. There have been a few scooter deaths here in the last few years...no doubt they could have been prevented with rider training.

[stevew_zzr]

Other police statistics showed:
• 50 of the 64 fatal crashes involving motorcyclists last year were attributed to the actions of the motorcyclist;
• 30 of the deaths were on local roads
• 33 of the deaths were on main roads
• 40% were single vehicle motorcycle accidents
• 27% of riders in fatal crashes held their licence for less than five years
• 15.9% were unlicensed.

Wow what a bunch of useless numbers. How many accidents in general *don't* involve the actions of the driver ? About 1% maybe. It should be stated that 40% were *believed* to be single vehicle accidents, considering how often i've come around a bend to have some truck halfway in my lane and then had to evade the retard i wouldn't be surprised if 50% of the 40% (that 20% over all ) were *not* single vehicle accidents - but classed as anyway. And 27% of riders had held their license for less than 5 years ... well how many active riders out there have had their license for for less than 5 years? Without a comparison that number is effing useless.

God i hate politicians and their rhetoric. Blah blah blah. Stop talking - and go SPEND SOME MONEY ON THE PROBLEM YOU SPASTIC MORON BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO (oh and also maybe pass some more motorcycle friendly legislation while u are at it)!

[HemiDuty]

I couldn't help but notice the lack of deaths attributed to lane-splitting in that spiel.

[RG]

Other police statistics showed:
• 50 of the 64 fatal crashes involving motorcyclists last year were attributed to the actions of the motorcyclist;
• 30 of the deaths were on local roads
• 33 of the deaths were on main roads
• 40% were single vehicle motorcycle accidents
• 27% of riders in fatal crashes held their licence for less than five years
• 15.9% were unlicensed.

30 + 33 = 63
Where did the extra 1 rider die? private property?

• 40% were single vehicle motorcycle accidents
Does that include hit and run?
If someone hit me on the side, I crash and he drove off, is that a single vehicle accident?

• 27% of riders in fatal crashes held their licence for less than five years
That means the remaining 57.1%(100% - 27%+ 15.9%) of riders in fatal crashes had their license for more than 5 yrs. What does that mean? We should pay less for insurance becoz we(having license less than 5 yrs) are less prone to accident?


It's all numbers, it's how we use it to our advantage.

[stevew_zzr]

I did stats at Uni for a while... first thing we learnt was that all statistics mean absolutely nothing unless backed up with good reason. So quoting numbers to back up a highly flawed or weak argument is just plain stupid.

Start with a strong argument, and then add credibility to it with the *relevant* statistics.

As for motorists who "Don't think about the safety of others" - well to be honest I think that car drivers are absolutely appalling. Not just in terms of taking out us all the time, but also because they drive big *heavy* objects they do alot more damage to *others* when they stuff up. They are probably the most careless group of motorists out there, because most people have no idea how much damage a car can do.

[ninja9]

Glad I'm not in QLD. Sounds like a real "nanny" state they are trying to introduce. What % of politicians have bikes?
I bet none of the wankers do.