Nine lives have been lost on Sunshine Coast roads this year, and five of those were riding a motorbike, making them overrepresented in local road deaths.
Motorbike riders and their passengers make up around 27 per cent of lives lost on Queensland roads, yet they make up only around five per cent of vehicles registered on the road.
Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho said motorbike riders are one of the most vulnerable road users.
“Motorbikes can be hard to see and the riders have less protection than those in cars so are more likely to be injured if there is a crash,” Senior Sergeant Panoho said.
“Though all motorists need to commit to increasing their caution and awareness for motorbikes, riders also need to take responsibility for their own road safety.
“Police are committed to reducing the number of people injured or killed on our roads through proactive high-visibility and covert operations, but we need the community to partner with us.
“Riding a motorbike is fun but can be a dangerous activity if not ridden correctly. All too often we see motorbike riders not taking the responsibility of their powerful bike seriously and riding recklessly on our roads, putting themselves and other road users at risk.
“Speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts and driving while tired or distracted are all major contributors to lives lost on our roads yet we still see these happen on our roads most days.”
Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol detected a motorbike rider allegedly traveling 134km/h in a 60 zone on Sandalwood Lane at Forest Glen on 24 May.
The 28-year-old Forest Glen man was also allegedly riding his uninsured Yamaha MT09 without a drivers licence and under the influence of cannabis.
He received a traffic infringement notice for use of unregistered motorbike, worth $258, and for exceeding the speed limit in speed zone by more than 40km/h, worth $1854 and eight points.
The 28-year-old also received a 24-hour drivers licence suspension notice, a saliva analysis notice and a Notice to Appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 12 August.
