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5:53AM Sunday 23 November, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 17° - max 25°

Our motorbike crash blackspots

12:00a.m. 18th May 2008

| By Kerryn Manifold

The Sunshine Coast’s winding hinterland roads have been identified as some of the state’s worst black spots for motorcycle accidents.

The situation has become so serious, the state government plans to place large motorcycle safety billboards along key routes to hinterland roads in a bid to cut the number of riders being killed or seriously injured.

Radio advertisements will begin today to urge motorcyclists to adopt safer attitudes and ride to suit road conditions.

Billboards and petrol-bowser advertising will be delivering the same message by June.

The outdoor advertisements will appear along the Bruce Highway at Forest Glen, Glasshouse Mountains Road at Glenview and Beerwah, and petrol stations on National Park Road in Nambour.

As the number of registered motorcycles continues to grow, Queensland Transport minister John Mickel is pleading with other road users to keep an eye out for motorcyclists, who represented 20% of road deaths in 2007 but accounted for less than 5% of registered vehicles.

“Riders are the people who can make the most difference, so we’re asking them to take responsibly for their safety,” Mr Mickel said.

As of Thursday morning, 113 people had died on Queensland roads this year – 21 of them motorbike riders.

Coast-based Queensland Motorcycle School owner Glen Patten said hinterland routes such as the Stanley River Road and Conondale Range Road were exciting but potentially dangerous for riders.

“That’s where a lot of guys go if they’re going to go out and be silly,” he said.

“There mightn’t be crashes every weekend, but there’s always guys pushing it. The hard part is the unknown. You don’t know what’s coming around the corner.

“Not enough riders prepare for the worst. They just hope for the best.

“You can have all the handling skills in the world, but if you haven’t got your head screwed on, you’re going to get hurt.”

Queensland Police North Coast Region acting inspector Peter Flanders agreed riders needed to adopt responsible attitudes to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities.

Insp Flanders, who has held a motorbike licence for 26 years, said any range roads around Maleny and Kenilworth were places riders were likely to crash.

“The fun of riding a motorbike is not going straight,” he said. “The fun is in experiencing each corner.

“That’s why I got my licence, but with that comes a massive responsibility to accept that if you are going to be in a crash, you are going to get hurt.”

Acting Inspector Flanders said riders needed to look out for other road users to compensate for mistakes they might make.

“It’s not much use being in the right when you’re the one in hospital,” he said.

Recent Comments

Add a comment
Posted by brewer from Bribie
on 18 May, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Far too many bikers are in love with the image portrayed by the whole bike scene and advertising, leather (plastic) etc and not the biking factor.
The lay down seating position portraying high speed racing is the biggest danger. There is little balance in many corners in that position and it actually forces speed up to keep momentum. Governments and insurance people know this but paraplegics make the world go around?
Definition of a cafe racer- round and round the block in between milkshakes.
Posted by Cooroy_Kid from Cooroy
on 18 May, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
There's nothing wrong with the roads.

It's what is missing from the heads of the riders.

More than likely, someone else is going to die today.
Posted by newsblog from Coolum
on 18 May, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think Glenn Patten and Acting Inspector Peter Flanders say all that needs to be said ??

“You can have all the handling skills in the world, but if you haven’t got your head screwed on, you’re going to get hurt.”

and

Queensland Police North Coast Region acting inspector Peter Flanders agreed riders needed to adopt responsible attitudes to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities."
Posted by Darkknight from Sippy Downs
on 18 May, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Too many 40 odd men with a mid-life crisis buying a Harley and leathers and scooting around on roads they're not used to at speeds they can't handle.
Posted by Cooroy_Kid from Cooroy
on 18 May, 2008 at 11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Already one motorcyclist has been taken to Nambour Hospital today, and it's only 11am!!
Posted by LifeofRiley from Maroochydore
on 18 May, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Signage is a good idea but put these signs on the roads where motorcyclists use eg on the Montville Road, Kenilworth Roads etc. They need to be in your face to be any use.

I have a motorcycle licence over 30 years and my best bike was an old honda CB350 that you could ride sitting upright with high rise handlebars. It was like riding a big comfortable armchair and it was a joy to ride.

I think the design of these newer bikes also contribute to the problem all hunched over. My sister had one of these and it was the most uncomfortable thing to ride.

I have also been out on the roads with these weekend warriors of the road and nearly been taken out with them racing each other and hugging the inside line. There is no margin for error and as Acting Inspector Flanders said “It’s not much use being in the right when you’re the one in hospital,”.

A bit more common sense is needed by the motorcyclists and other road users need to be aware.
Posted by hermes from mountain creek
on 18 May, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I have been passed so many times by lunatic bikers on the range, cutting corners, speeding, going on the wrong side of the road; once I even telephoned the police because of this pack of bikers who were driving so fast and so dangerously, that I thought someone would definitely get killed. It's nothing to do with the roads, just to do with excessive speed and dangerous driving...it's a no-brainer. For every decent law abiding biker, there seems to be a hundred idiots.
Posted by Kwozzie from Coolum
on 18 May, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Asking all car drivers, when you check your mirrors, and merging lanes, are you looking for cars, trucks or bikes?

Riding my bike to work every day, the most dangerous parts are lane merges and roundabouts, simply because a number of people fail to check for ALL traffic.

My biggest thanks goes to the lady that saw me and continued to merge on Nicklin Way!

Is brain washing with bill boards really the answer here?
Posted by Kwozzie from Coolum
on 19 May, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Here's a grand idea, why don't we put speed cameras in black spots?

Oh wait, isn't that what speed cameras are for?

Can't remember the last time I saw a speed camera in a known blackspot!
Posted by Bob_Bates from Warana
on 19 May, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Kwozzie, I follow what you say, but if I were a motor-cyclist, I would not position my bike at the hip and in the blind spot of a motorist.
Posted by Gonzo from Woombye
on 15 July, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
With regards to all of the comments placing all blame on motorcyclists, my wife & I have been riding for years and the only near misses we have had were caused by inattentiveness & carelessness & plain old bullying tactics used by drivers of 4WD vehicles, cars & trucks. We have to ride with the attitude that all other vehicles on the road are driven by maniacs out to kill us, not the other way around. We do not ride fast speedsters & we do not ride in the blind spot but still even though we know we have been seen, motorists bully us by cutting us off, erratic lane changes even if we are right beside them & just wanting to be first to get to the next set of lights. Not all motorcycle accidents are caused by the riders, quite the opposite in fact.
Posted by lookbike from Currumbin Waters
on 17 August, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yes - I agree with Gonzo - having lost my son in a bike accident three years ago and setting up a support group for families who have lost a loved one as a result of a motorbike accident I know only to well that the motoring public do not always look for a bike. What happens when you have a situation where a motorist merges - bike rider takes evasive action - motorist keeps going, bike rider ends up hitting a pole, a tree, a guard rail - loss of life and they say rider error! Where is the car and driver who may have caused the accident?

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