Gold Coast Hinterland road horror: 12 deaths in a year Gold Coast Hinterland road horror: 12 deaths in a year

THE Gold Coast Hinterland’s ­narrow, hilly and winding roads are a motorcyclist’s heaven. Sadly, they are also claiming too many riders’ lives.

Hinterland road horror: 12 deaths

THE Gold Coast Hinterland’s ­narrow, hilly and winding roads are a motorcyclist’s heaven.

Sadly, they are also claiming many riders’ lives as a rising road toll alarms authorities.

So far this year 12 motorists, more than half of them riders, have been killed on the Coast’s back roads that every weekend attract thousands of riders.

Contrary to the stereotypes, it is not the boy racers and speed ­demons who are coming to grief but middle-aged men on bikes generally regarded as cruising­ ­machines.

Police believe in many cases this is because the roads and heavy ­machines demand more skill than the riders can give.

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“When you look at the statistics, 80 per cent of the time it is the fault of the rider

– they cannot blame anyone else,” said the Coast’s top traffic cop, Bradyn Murphy.

“Any returning riders should get a refresher course and at the same time really get to know your motorcycle,” he said.

“I have been to way too many crashes that I don’t want to remember. Human bodies aren’t meant to come off motorcycles.”

With 28 years’ experience on motorcycle patrols, Sen-Sgt Murphy has urged riders to enrol in motorcycle courses with Q-Ride and other training companies before making a return to riding on two wheels.

The scene of a fatal car vs motorbike crash on Nerang Murwillumbah Rd. Friends from the riding group coming together. Picture: Jerad Williams

Police at Nerang have been called to four motorcycle deaths in the past year, said officer-in-charge Peter Gordon.

“Most of the crashes involve people in the older age category,” Sen-Sgt Gordon said.

He recommended motorcyclists ride in groups when possible and regularly update their skills with Q-Ride courses.

“Older riders are getting on motorcycles that are a lot bigger and more powerful than when they were younger and certain bikes can be a like a gym workout to ride,” he said.

“I love riding motorcycles but there are a lot of reasons to quit,” he said about giving up his own ­Kawasaki 750cc 20 years ago.

Gold Coast Ulysses Motorcycle Club secretary David Hicks said it was far safer for riders to stick together on group rides.

A male motorcyclist lay dead under a blue tarp this afternoon after he failed to navigate a corner on the decent of Springbrook Road, Springbrook. Picture: Richard Gosling

“We ride tightly structured with a leader and a tail rider and we stick to the speed limits,” Mr Hicks said. “Riding alone, motorists can miss you but when you’re in a group you don’t get missed in car or truck blind spots, plus there’s the camaraderie of riding in a group.”

He said while the Ulysses club catered for riders over 40 there were motorcycle clubs for all kinds of riders on the Gold Coast.

Nerang Q-Ride instructor Conrad Brown rides a Harley Fatboy and said rider training courses were popular but most riders were more focused on their toys rather than saving their lives.

“A lot of riders go out and spend thousands on new motorcycles but they don’t fork out to get any training,” Mr Brown said.

“It’s hard to put a figure on a human life but it’s worth more than a couple of hundred bucks.”

HINTERLAND MOTORING DEATHS SINCE NOVEMBER 1, 2014

The scene of a fatal car vs motorbike crash on Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd.

1. NATURAL BRIDGE, November 8, 2014, 2.50pm: 47-year-old male motorcycle rider killed on Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd.

2. ADVANCETOWN, November 12, 2014, 9pm: 32-year-old male driver of sedan died on Lower Beechmont Rd.

3. MUDGEERABA, December 1, 2014, 4.30pm: 54-year-old driver of hatchback died on Springbrook Rd.

4. NATURAL BRIDGE, February 1, 2015, 9am: 48-year-old male motorcyclist died on Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd.

5. LOWER BEECHMONT, April 18, 2015, 11.30am: 33-year-old male motorcyclist killed on Beechmont Rd.

6. CLAGIRABA, April 28, 8pm: 24-year-old male driver of sedan died on Beaudesert-Nerang Rd.

7. ADVANCETOWN, July 4, 2015, 4pm: 38-year-old male motorbike rider, an international tourist, dead after falling off back of motorbike on Beechmont Rd.

8. KINGSHOLME, September 29, 2015, 8.30pm: 20-year-old male driver of station wagon killed on Upper Ormeau Rd.

9. ADVANCETOWN, September 27, 2015, 11am: 59-year-old male motorcyclist killed when hit by a van on Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd.

10. WONGAWALLAN, October 1, 2015, 3pm: 44-year-old male truck driver killed on Tamborine-Oxenford Rd.

11. ADVANCETOWN, October 22, 2015, 3.45pm: 24-year-old male motorcyclist died on Clagiraba Rd.

12. SPRINGBROOK, October 29, 2015, 4pm: Rider believed to be in his 40s killed after reportedly failing to negotiate a bend on Springbrook Rd.